RALEIGH, N.C.—Senior Merga Gemeda cruised to a new South Dakota program record in the 10,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays Friday night on Paul Derr Track.
 
Gemeda clocked 28:58.12 to win his section of the 10,000 meters and finished 16th overall at the Raleigh Relays. He shaved 20 seconds off his personal best from last spring, breaking his own school record in the process. Two months lie ahead of the 2023 NCAA West Preliminary meet, but tonight's time would have placed Gemeda in qualifying position for the first round of nationals last season.
 
Fourth-year junior Helen Gould placed 27th in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, crossing the finish line in 11:08.61 to open the season.
 
Also racing on Friday afternoon in Raleigh were fourth-year junior Ella Byers in the 1,500 meters and junior Abrielle Jirele in the 5,000 meters. Byers clocked 4:32.03 and Jirele posted a time of 17:31.57.
 
South Dakota returns to action Saturday at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, California, and the Wildcat Classic in Wayne, Nebraska.

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WAYNE, Neb.—South Dakota redshirt-freshman Quincy Warren led a small group of Coyote throwers at the Wildcat Classic held Friday afternoon at Wayne State's LeRoy Simpson Track.
 
Warren placed third in the hammer throw with a mark of 189-7 ¼ (57.79m). He moves into ninth on the Coyote Top 10 following his first competition as a Coyote. Sophomore Wyatt Pruce took 10th with a throw of 160-5.
 
Fourth-year sophomore Riley Griffith took 10th place in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 153-11 ¼ (46.92m).