COLLEGE STATION, Texas—South Dakota senior Zack Anderson is returning to the NCAA Championships in the high jump, qualifying through the NCAA West Preliminary on Friday afternoon inside E.B. Cushing Stadium.
 
Anderson was one of 11 high jumpers to clear 7-2 ¼ (2.19m) and advance to the NCAA final. The height is the eighth-best mark in NCAA West history. A three-time All-American in the high jump, Anderson advances to his third-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships. His personal best of 7-5 (2.26m) from earlier this season ranks third in the nation this year.
 
The Coyotes' top-ranked high jump squad had four men qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary, the most of any school in the nation. Joining Anderson in the competition were redshirt-sophomore Jack Durst, redshirt-junior Travis Larson and redshirt-freshman Ethan Heitman. Durst cleared 6-11 (2.11m) for 24th in the competition and Larson made 6-9 (2.06m).
 
South Dakota has advanced five athletes to the NCAA Championships competition held June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Anderson will be joined by a quartet of pole vaulters – Ethan Bray, Marshall Faurot, Helen Falda and Gen Hirata. Two more women look to punch tickets on the final day. The Coyotes also had five athletes advance to the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships, after sending a program-record six in 2018.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Jessie Sullivan took 39th in the discus throw with a mark of 170-2 (51.88m). He improved six spots from where he was seeded in the event.
 
The meet went into a weather delay prior to the men's 4x100-meter relay. The quartet of Virgil Steward, Demar Francis, Ardell Inlay and Dylan Kautz wait to compete in the event at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.