AUSTIN and SAN MARCOS, Texas—South Dakota fourth-year junior Merga Gemeda highlighted the Coyotes in action on Thursday in Texas, capturing the 5,000-meter title at the Bobcat Invitational at the Texas State Track and Field Complex.
 
Gemeda clocked 14:31.20 to win the 5,000 meters in his season opener. The time is just four seconds off his outdoor best from last season.
 
Back in Austin at the 94th edition of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays held at Mike A. Myers Stadium, the Coyotes had six top-10 performances.
 
Freshman Marleen Mülla, a second-team All-American indoors, placed fourth in her outdoor debut with a height of 13-11 ¼ (4.25m). The height ranks seventh in USD program history. On the men's side, third-year sophomore Marshall Faurot took sixth with a height of 17-0 ¾ (5.20m).
 
Sophomore Abrielle Jirele placed fifth in the "B" section of the women's 1,500-meter run. She clocked a personal best of 4:30.61, which moved her to seventh in USD program history. Fourth-year sophomore Haley Arens and third-year sophomore Ella Byers placed 10th and 12th, respectively. Arens clocked 4:40.01 and Byers posted a time of 4:45.59.
 
Fourth-year junior Josephine Starner took ninth place in the "B" section of the javelin. She sent the javelin 147-1 (44.83m).
 
Sophomore Jacy Pulse broke onto the Coyote Top-10 list in the 400-meter hurdles. She clocked 1:01.86 for the sixth-fastest time in school history. She finished 10th in the field. Freshman Averi Schmeichel crossed the finish line in 1:07.34.
 
Third-year sophomore Helen Gould opened the season at Texas with a time of 11:07.31 for the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
 
Fourth-year junior Jessie Sullivan launched the hammer 186-4 (56.81) for the first outdoor meet of the year.
 
Fifth-year senior Holly Gerberding recorded a personal best score of 4,749 points over the two-day competition in the women's heptathlon.
 
South Dakota returns to action Friday at a trio of meets – the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (Austin, Texas), the Bobcat Invitational (San Marcos, Texas) and the Wildcat Classic (Wayne, Nebraska).