ST. PAUL, Minn.—South Dakota fifth-year senior Gen Hirata successfully defended her women's pole vault title on day one of the Summit League Championships Thursday at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
 
Hirata picked up her third outdoor pole vault title in the last four years. South Dakota has won 11-straight women's outdoor pole vault titles. She captured the event with a height of 14-1 ¼ (4.30m), clearing the bar on the first attempt with the help of a lucky bounce on the standards. Hirata is a four-time All-American and the 2023 Summit League Field Athlete of the Year. Senior Jaidyn Garrett, who was the 2022 champion in the event, finished runner-up with a height of 13-4 ½ (4.08m). Freshman Eliza Aitken joined them on the podium with a clearance of 12-10 ¾ (3.93m) for third. Freshman Kailee Swart was seventh with the same height as the Coyotes picked up 26 points in the vault.
 
Through five of 21 events on the women's side, South Dakota's 58 points trails leader North Dakota State by one point. Through four of 21 events on the men's side, the Coyotes have 36 points. North Dakota State leads the way with 47 points and South Dakota State sits in third with 33 points.
 
Sophomore Quincy Warren and redshirt-sophomore Tristan Gray both earned a spot on the podium in the men's hammer throw. Warren finished runner-up with a throw of 183-10 (56.05m) and Gray took third with a mark of 176-1 (53.69m). Junior Wyatt Pruce took fourth, helping the Coyotes collect 19 points in the event.
 
South Dakota added 17 more points in the men's long jump led by another pair of podium finishes. Sophomore Bennett Schwenn took second with a leap of 24-1 (7.34m) on his final jump. Freshman Carsen Staehr also took a big final jump, leaping 23-7 ½ (7.20m) to improve three places in the standings to third overall for all-Summit honors. Junior Jayden Green recorded a new personal record of 23-2 ¾ (7.08m) in the long jump, stealing points with a sixth-place finish in the competition. He was seeded 13th in the field.
 
Four Coyote women scored 14 points in the women's hammer throw led by junior Kenzie Campbell's all-Summit performance. Campbell launched the hammer 185-2 (56.45m) on her final throw to improve three places and finish runner-up in the competition. Junior Delaney Smith, senior Meredith Clark and senior Riley Griffith combined for six more points by finishing sixth through eighth, respectively. Griffith advanced through to the final and scored after throwing in the first flight.
 
Junior Danii Anglin and freshman Maddie Olson also reached the podium. The duo took second and third, respectively, in the women's high jump with both clearing 5-7 ¾ (1.72m). The height is a personal best for Olson and moves her to seventh on the Coyotes' all-time charts. Sophomore Matayah YellowMule took fifth with a season-best height of 5-5 ¾ (1.67m).
 
Through the first day of the men's decathlon, all four Coyotes sit in scoring position. Junior Derek Eidsness leads the group sitting in third place with 3,588 points through five events. Senior Bryce Paulsen had the best shot put throw of the competition with a mark of 42-10 ¼ (13.06m).
 
South Dakota returns to action Friday morning at 9:45 a.m. starting with the men's decathlon. Friday's field events begin at 4 p.m. and the running events start at 6 p.m. inside O'Shaughnessy Stadium.
 
Summit League Championships Men's Point Scorers
2. Quincy Warren, hammer throw, 183-10 (56.05m)
            3. Tristan Gray, hammer throw, 176-1 (53.69m)
            4. Wyatt Pruce, hammer throw, 164-7 (50.18m)
2. Bennett Schwenn, long jump, 24-1 (7.34m)
            3. Carsen Staehr, long jump, 23-7 ½ (7.20m)
            6. Jayden Green, long jump, 23-2 ¾ (7.08m)
 
Summit League Championships Women's Point Scorers
1. Gen Hirata, pole vault, 14-1 ¼ (4.30m)
            2. Jaidyn Garrett, pole vault, 13-4 ½ (4.08m)
            3. Eliza Aitken, pole vault, 12-10 ¾ (3.93m)
            7. Kailee Swart, pole vault, 12-10 ¾ (3.93m)
2. Kenzie Campbell, hammer throw, 185-2 (56.45m)
            6. Delaney Smith, hammer throw, 176-4 (53.76m)
            7. Meredith Clark, hammer throw, 175-10 (53.59m)
            8. Riley Griffith, hammer throw, 165-7 (50.47m)
2. Danii Anglin, high jump, 5-7 ¾ (1.72m)
            3. Maddie Olson, high jump, 5-7 ¾ (1.72m)
            5. Matayah YellowMule, high jump, 5-5 ¾ (1.67m)