The Meet

For the first time in a decade, South Dakota plays host to the 2023 Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Mildred J. Hillenbrand Memorial Track inside the DakotaDome. The meet was rescheduled for Saturday and Sunday due to a winter storm in the region. The multi events kick off both mornings at 9:30 a.m. Saturday's field events begin at 3 p.m. with running events at 3:30 p.m. Sunday's field events start at 11:30 a.m. while track events kick off at 1 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased on GoYotes.com or at the door. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per youth (K-12) each day. General admission entrances are on the East side of the DakotaDome (access from University Street). Parking is available on the East and South sides of the DakotaDome. Concessions will be available in the East concourse.
 

The Coyotes

South Dakota's women are the defending champions, while the Coyote men were two points shy of a conference title last year indoors. Leading the charge for the Coyote women last season was the 2022 Summit League Most Outstanding Championship Performer and Track Athlete of the Year Sara Reifenrath. Reifenrath, who tallied 22.5 points last season with golds in the 200 meters, 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay, will be sidelined by injury for this year's meet. South Dakota does return defending champions Marleen Mülla in the pole vault and Danii Anglin in the high jump, who each became USD school record holders this season in their events. Both are also currently in qualifying position for the NCAA Indoor Championships alongside fellow pole vaulter Gen Hirata. Sprinter Erin Kinney, who has been blazing trails as a four-time Summit Peak Performer of the Week this season, sits in 24th place nationally for the 60 meters.
 

The League Leaders

A Coyote leads the Summit League in eight of 32 events entering the Summit meet.
 
Men's 60m: Dylan Kautz, 6.76 seconds
Women's 60m: Erin Kinney, 7.27 seconds
Women's 400m: Jacy Pulse, 54.29 seconds
Women's 3,000m: Abrielle Jirele, 9:30.48
Women's High Jump: Danii Anglin, 6-1 ¼ (1.86m)
Men's Pole Vault: Marshall Faurot, 17-2 ¾ (5.25m)
Women's Pole Vault: Marleen Mülla, 14-10 (4.52m)
Women's Weight Throw: Lydia Knapp, 67-8 ¾ (20.64m)
 

The Defending Champions

Men's 60m: Dylan Kautz, 6.71 seconds
Men's Pole Vault: Eerik Haamer, 17-5 ½ (5.32m)
Men's High Jump: Jack Durst, 6-8 ¼ (2.04m)
Women's Pole Vault: Marleen Mülla, 14-5 ¼ (4.40m)
Women's High Jump: Danii Anglin, 5-10 ¾ (1.80m)
Women's 4x400m Relay, 3:42.90
Women's Distance Medley Relay, 11:53.86
 

One Last Thing

The last time the Summit League Championships were held inside the DakotaDome, the Coyote men's track and field squad became the first USD team in any sport to capture a Summit League team title. Behind 2013 Summit Track Championship MVP Jeff Mettler, who won two of USD's eight individual titles, the Coyotes snagged the trophy with a 13.5-point edge on runner-up North Dakota State. The win spurred three consecutive indoor titles for the men's program. The Coyote men and women will look to recreate some of that home track magic this weekend.