NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota's track and field and cross country programs were recognized as All-Academic teams by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). In addition, 25 Coyotes were recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic individuals.
The Coyote women's track and field program boasts a 3.64 cumulative team grade-point average, which ranks 22nd nationally. This marks the ninth consecutive year that USD's posted a national top-25 GPA on the women's side. The men's track and field team carries a 3.29 cumulative team GPA.
Both teams have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition every year since 2011. To be recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic team, a program must carry a combined cumulative grade-point average above 3.00.
South Dakota's men's and women's cross country teams were also recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic teams this past year. The women's cross country team GPA of 3.77 ranked 15th nationally, the highest for the program since 2016. The men hold a team GPA of 3.26.
Twenty-five Coyotes, 14 women and 11 men, also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic individual honors on the track, a prestigious award requiring a student-athlete to carry a cumulative GPA above 3.25 and meet stringent athletic standards. Student-athletes must either compete at any round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships or be ranked nationally in the top-96 of an individual event during the indoor season. Multi-event athletes must rank in the top-48 of their region for the outdoor season.
USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals
Zack Anderson, General Studies, high jump (o)
Jonna Bart, Accounting, 3,000-meter steeplechase (o)
Ethan Bray, Master's in Kinesiology and Sport Management, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Kaleb Ellis, Kinesiology and Sport Management, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Helen Falda, Master's in Kinesiology and Sport Management, pole vault (o)
Marshall Faurot, Business Administration, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Jaidyn Garrett, Biology, pole vault (o)
Holly Gerberding, Medical Biology, pentathlon (i)
Eerik Haamer, Media and Journalism, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Carly Haring, Medical Biology, high jump (i), high jump (o)
Ethan Heitman, Pre-Physical Therapy, high jump (i), high jump (o)
Callie Henrich, Biology, shot put (i)
Gen Hirata, Media and Journalism, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Dylan Kautz, Business, 100 meters (o)
Landon Kemp, Sports Marketing and Media, pole vault (i)
Lydia Knapp, Medical Lab Science, weight throw (i), hammer throw (o)
Kamberlyn Lamer, Master's in Kinesiology and Sport Management, heptathlon (o)
Travis Larson, Health Sciences, high jump (o)
Deidra Marrison, Health Sciences, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Hugo Morvan, Physics, 60-meter hurdles (i), 110-meter hurdles (o)
Sara Reifenrath, Computer Sciences, 200 meters (i), 400 meters (i), 200 meters (o), 400 meters (o)
Brithton Senior, Kinesiology and Sport Management, 60-meter hurdles (i)
Josephine Starner, Communications, shot put (i), javelin (o)
Jessie Sullivan, Chemistry, weight throw (i), shot put (i), hammer throw (o), discus (o)
Josephina Wright, Sports Marketing and Media, pole vault (i)