SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Poll was announced by the conference office Wednesday morning, with both the Coyote men and women being picked in the top three.
 
After a third-place finish for both the men and women at the Indoor Summit League Championships this winter, the Coyotes find themselves inside the top three in the preseason coaches' poll. The Coyote men received 28 points in the poll, trailing North Dakota State for the top spot. On the women's side, USD trails the two North Dakota schools, but did receive a first-place vote in the poll.
 
Four Coyotes were named preseason athletes to watch. On the men's side, Dylan Curtis and Aidan Hedderman were USD's athletes to watch.
 
Curtis redshirted his first year at USD and didn't compete indoor this spring, will join a talented pole vault room for the outdoor season. His high school personal best is 16-6.
 
Hedderman is a South Dakota High School State record holder in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal best 13.88 seconds. He didn't compete during the indoor season, but the freshman will look to make an impact in the hurdles this spring.
 
On the women's side, Aubrey O'Hare and Berkeley Engelland were named athletes to watch for the Yotes this season.
 
Engelland made her impact in the mid-distance this winter, earning all-Summit League honors in the 800-meters and the 4x400. Her season's best 2:09.4 in the 800 at the Tyson Invitational ranks second on the Coyote Indoor Top 10 list for the event. Her efforts in the 4x400, along with teammates Ellie Thomas, Averi Schmeichel, and Sara Reifenrath at the Summit League Championships set a Summit League meet record with a time of 3:40.46, and is the second quickest time on the Coyote Indoor Top 10 list.
 
O'Hare will compete in the combined events this spring for the Yotes. The freshman is a seven-time state medalist in Nebraska, excelling in the hurdle races during her prep career.
 
South Dakota starts the outdoor season with the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, the Bobcat Invitational, and the Wildcat Classic March 27-29. USD's first outdoor home competition, the USD Early Bird, at the Lillibridge Track Complex is slated for April 4-5.
 
The Outdoor Summit League Championships are set for May 15-17 at the Lillibridge Track Complex in Vermillion.