SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota junior Jacy Pulse and fourth-year sophomore Gen Hirata have been voted the 2023 Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year, respectively. The awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
Hirata, who hails from Fredericksburg, Virginia, took bronze at the NCAA Championships in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 14-5 ¼ (4.40m) for first-team All-America honors. Hirata was also the Summit League champion in the pole vault. She vaulted a personal best of 14-7 ¼ (4.45m) to win the Mt. SAC Relays in April and went on to vault past 14 feet in each of the last four meets to end the season.
 
Hirata picks up the Coyotes' fifth Summit Field Athlete of the Year award and first since 2017.
 
Pulse, a native of Salem, South Dakota, placed 10th at the NCAA Championships in the women's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.14 seconds. Her clocking set a record for the fastest semifinal time to not make the final in NCAA Championship history. Pulse garnered second-team All-America accolades for the performance. She owns USD's school record in the event, with a time of 56.11 seconds set in the quarterfinals at the NCAA West Preliminary round. She took gold in the 400 hurdles, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay at the Summit League Championships.
 
Pulse is the fourth Coyote to garner the league's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.
 
The Coyotes' also swept the 2023 Summit League Women's Track and Field Championship MVP awards with Erin Kinney (track) and Meredith Clark (field) garnering the most points during the conference meet.