The Meet

South Dakota track and field returns to action at the 113th Drake Relays held inside the big blue oval in Des Moines, Iowa, from April 27-29. The Coyotes will also send a contingent to nearby Simpson College for the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola, Iowa, on Thursday and Friday.
 

The Coyotes

South Dakota's women have continued to climb the national charts as the outdoor season has progressed. The Coyotes are ranked No. 34 nationally by the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association with the No. 1 women's pole vault squad.
 
The Coyotes are coming off The Monday Meet, a makeshift one-day competition at Lillibridge Complex after weather forced the cancellation of the South Dakota Challenge. Junior Erin Kinney took advantage of the extra reps and gorgeous spring afternoon, breaking a 29-year-old South Dakota program record in the 100-meter dash. She clocked 11.28 seconds. That time also broke the Lillibridge facility record. Speaking of facility records, Kinney also anchored the women's 4x100-meter relay that broke the Lillibridge record with a time of 44.90 seconds. She was joined by classmate Jacy Pulse and sophomores Sammy Neil and Anna Robinson on the relay. The Coyotes won more than a dozen events during the day with several season and lifetime bests. Fourth-year junior Lydia Knapp improved her league-lead with a new personal best of 206-4 (62.90m) in the hammer throw and fifth-year senior Jack Durst inched closer to the Summit leader in the high jump with a season-best 6-11 ½ (2.12m).

The League Leaders

South Dakota leads the Summit League in 11 events this spring, with nine of those on the women's side.
 
Women's 100m: Erin Kinney, 11.28 seconds
Women's 400m Hurdles: Jacy Pulse, 58.25 seconds
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase: Helen Gould, 10:50.21
Men's 4x100m Relay: Ardell Inlay, Dylan Kautz, Johnson Adegbite, Ken-Mark Minkovski, 40.54 seconds
Women's 4x100m Relay: Erin Kinney, Anna Robinson, Sammy Neil, Jacy Pulse, 44.89 seconds
Women's High Jump: Danii Anglin, 5-11 ½ (1.82m)
Men's Pole Vault: Marshall Faurot, 17-7 ¼ (5.37m)
Women's Pole Vault: Gen Hirata, 14-7 ¼ (4.45m)
Women's Shot Put: Meredith Clark, 50-4 (15.34m)
Women's Discus: Lydia Knapp, 167-9 (51.14m)
Women's Hammer: Lydia Knapp, 206-4 (62.90m)
 

The Competition

South Dakota will face elite competition from teams across the greater Midwest. The Drake Relays will also bring in professional fields in select events.
 

Up Next

We're nearing the end of the outdoor slate with the Coyotes' last regular season competition scheduled for May 5. South Dakota track and field plays host for the USD Tune-Up in the final meet ahead of the championship slate.