VERMILLION, S.D.—The Coyotes captured half of the races at Thursday night's distance carnival of the South Dakota Challenge.
 
The women's 400-meter hurdles came down to the wire between Coyote teammates sophomore Jacy Pulse and fifth-year senior Holly Geberding. Pulse took the tape in 1:00.55, while Gerberding finished runner-up in 1:00.76. Freshman Averi Schmeichel recorded a personal best 1:03.70 and took fourth place.
 
Third-year sophomore Madison Jochum clocked 2:15.26 to capture the 800 meters. Fifth-year senior Alli Wroblewski finished runner-up in 2:16.26.
 
The Coyotes swept the top-four spots of the women's 5,000 meters. Third-year sophomore Ella Byers won the race in 17:26.59. Fifth-year senior Abby Ribberda finished runner-up in a season-best 17:28.90. Sophomore Abrielle Jirele took third in 17:38.04 and third-year sophomore Helen Gould was fourth in 17:39.21. All four times rank in the top-10 of the Summit League standings this spring.
 
Third-year sophomore Charlie Babcock capped off the night with a victory in the 5,000 meters, clocking a winning time of 15:12.28. Fourth-year junior Jacob Waymire finished runner-up in 15:31.11.
 
Coyote triathlete Ella Kubas won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:20.15. She was two seconds off her personal best from a year ago. Redshirt-freshman Lizzy Kramer posted her best time in the event, clocking 11:33.29 for second place.
 
The duo of fourth-year junior Merga Gemeda and freshman Mason Sindelar finished neck-and-neck in the 1,500 meters for second and third place, respectively. Gemeda clocked 3:57.13 for second with Sindelar just one-hundredth of a second behind.
 
Fifth-year junior Merga Gemeda took fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:39.96. The time is three seconds shy of his personal best.
 
The South Dakota Challenge returns Friday with the women's pole vault at 2 p.m.