COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Tre Young punches South Dakota's first ticket to the NCAA Championships and three Coyotes advanced to the next round on the track during the opening day of the NCAA West First Round in College Station.
 
Young will make his first trip to Eugene, Oregon and the NCAA Championships after placing in the top 12 at Wednesday's pole vault semifinal. He bowed out of the competition after clearing 17-5 ½ (5.32m). He had first attempt clearances at 16-5 ½ and 17-5 ½ to help put him inside the top 12.
 
Spencer Buley also cleared 17-5 ½ during Wednesday's competition, but he needed third attempt clearances at all three bars he went over, putting him outside of the top 12 in 14^th. Beau Karst cleared 16-11 ½ (5.17m) in his first NCAA West appearance. Wyatt Stewart competed as well, but was not able to clear the opening 16-5 ½ bar.
 
On the track, all three Coyotes advanced to the quarterfinals Friday evening. In the first race of the night, Jaden Damiano ran 13.68 in the first heat of the 110-meter hurdles, taking the third qualifying spot in the heat. In the final heat of the 110 hurdles, Mikael Grace did the same thing as Damiano, taking the third qualifying spot of his heat with a time of 13.75.
 
Mason Sindelar was not able to claim one of the top three automatic in his heat, but the 1:48.93 time he finished with placed him 22^nd out of 24 qualifying spots.
 
Damiano and Grace compete in the 110-meter hurdle quarterfinal at 6:15 p.m. Friday. Sindelar's 800-meter quarterfinal is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
 
Thursday is the women's turn on the track, as nine of USD's 10 women's qualifiers are in action. Lydia Knapp and Delaney Smith compete in the hammer throw at 10 a.m.. The pole vault is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as the Coyotes have five vaulters in action. Averi Schmeichel will hit the track at 6 p.m. (100-meter hurdles) and 8:20 p.m. (400-meter hurdles) and Sara Reifenrath will compete at 7:25 p.m. (400-meters) and 8:45 p.m. (200-meters).