NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota track and field programs were recognized by the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) as All-Academic teams. In addition, 20 Coyotes were recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic individuals.
The USD women's track and field team boasts a 3.66 cumulative team grade-point average, which is tied for 16th in the nation and first in the Summit. This marks the 12th consecutive year of the Coyote women posting a GPA in the nation's top-30. The Coyote men's team carries a 3.34 cumulative team GPA.
Both teams have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition every year since 2011. To be recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic team, a program must carry a combined cumulative grade-point average above 3.00.
Twenty Coyotes, 14 women and six men, also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic individual honors on the track, a prestigious award requiring a student-athlete to carry a cumulative GPA above 3.25 and meet stringent athletic standards. Student-athletes must either compete at any round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships or be nationally ranked in the top-96 of an individual event or top-48 of a relay event during the indoor season.
USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals
Spencer Buley, sports marketing & media, pole vault (i) pole vault (o)
Marshall Faurot, MBA, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Eerik Haamer, neuroscience, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Joe Lynch, accounting, high jump (i), high jump (o)
Bennett Schwenn, accounting, long jump (i), long jump (o)
Carsen Staehr, business, triple jump (o)
Eliza Aitken, business, pole vault (i)
Alayna Falak, MBA, pole vault (i)
Jaidyn Garrett, kinesiology & sport management, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Gen Hirata, master's in interdisciplinary studies, pole vault (i), pole vault (o)
Madison Jochum, master's in kinesiology & sport management, 4x400m relay (o)
Erin Kinney, kinesiology & sport management, 60m (i), 100m (o), 200m (i), 200m (o), 4x100m relay (o), 4x400m relay (i)
Cassidy Mooneyhan, psychology, pole vault (i)
Marleen Mülla, art, pole vault (i)
Jacy Pulse, nursing, 400m (i), 400m hurdles (o), 4x100m relay (o), 4x400m relay (i), 4x400m relay (o)
Sara Reifenrath, computer science, 200m (i), 400m (i), 400m (o), 4x100m relay (o), 4x400m relay (i), 4x400m relay (o)
Anna Robinson, nursing, 4x400m relay (i), 4x400m relay (o)
Averi Schmeichel, nursing, 100m hurdles (o), 400m hurdles (o), 4x100m relay (o)
Kailee Swart, medical biology, pole vault (i)
Matayah YellowMule, social work, pentathlon (i)