TULSA, Okla.—Fourth-year junior Jessie Sullivan broke the school record in the hammer throw to highlight Thursday's action at the Summit League Championships held at ONEOK Sports Complex.
 
Sullivan launched the hammer a personal best 209 feet, 4 inches, (63.80m) to break the school record of 208-9 held by Ethan Fenchel (2019). Sullivan and fifth-year senior Matt Slagus both reached the podium in the event with Sullivan finishing second and Slagus placing third. It marked the first time USD's had two athletes on the podium in the event. Slagus recorded a throw of 205-11 (62.76m). Fourth-year junior Kaden Elder added a seventh-place finish with a personal best throw of 193-11 (59.11m).
 
Third-year sophomore Lydia Knapp became just the third Coyote woman to earn all-Summit honors in the hammer throw. She finished runner-up in the competition with a personal best throw of 205-9 (62.71m). Third-year sophomore Meredith Clark took fourth place with a throw of 179-1 (54.58m) and freshman Kenzie Campbell was fifth in 172-8 (52.63m).
 
The morning started off with the women's 10,000 meters, with fifth-year senior Abby Ripperda earning all-league honors in the event for the second time of her career. After setting the pace for the early portion of the race, she continued to hold off fourth place in the final laps as she secured third with a time of 37:25.06.
 
The men's 10,000 meters was a much tighter race with the eight scorers finishing within 30 seconds of each other. Fourth-year junior Merga Gemeda placed fifth in 31:50.53 and third-year sophomore Charlie Babcock took eighth in 32:05.64.
 
Elder followed up his hammer throw performance with a personal best in the javelin. He placed seventh with a throw of 169-3 (51.59m).
 
Thursday also marked the first day of the multi events. Sophomore Wyatt Lubarski is in striking position in the decathlon with 3,618 points through five events. Liberty Justus sits in second place of the heptathlon with 3,034 points through four events, while fifth-year senior Holly Gerberding is in fifth with 2,989 points.
 
South Dakota resumes action at 10 a.m. Friday with the men's decathlon.
 
 
Summit League Championships Women's Point Scorers
2. Lydia Knapp, hammer throw, 205-9 (62.71m)
            4. Meredith Clark, hammer throw, 179-1 (54.58m)
            5. Kenzie Campbell, hammer throw, 172-8 (52.63m)
3. Abby Ripperda, 10,000 meters, 37:25.06
5. Lydia Knapp, javelin, 140-6
            7. Josephine Starner, javelin, 134-1
 
Summit League Championships Men's Point Scorers
2. Jessie Sullivan, hammer throw, 209-4 (63.80m)
            3. Matt Slagus, hammer throw, 205-11 (62.76m)
            7. Kaden Elder, hammer throw, 193-11 (59.11m)
5. Merga Gemeda, 10,000 meters, 31:50.53
            8. Charlie Babcock, 10,000 meters, 32:05.64
7. Kaden Elder, javelin, 169-3 (51.59m)