COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Thursday was the women's turn on the track, and two more South Dakota track and field athletes are making the trip to Eugene after performances at the NCAA West First Round.
 
South Dakota had nine athletes competing Thursday, including five in the pole vault competition. The Coyotes entered the NCAA West First Rounds ranked No. 43 in the NCAA, the highest of any Summit League program.
 
Both of South Dakota's NCAA Championship qualifiers came in the pole vault. Senior Gen Hirata and freshman Anna Willis punched their tickets to Eugene after clearing 14-6 (4.42m). Both competitors cleared four of their five jumps on the day to move on. Marleen Mülla just missed out on moving on, clearing 14-2 (4.32m) on her third attempt, but could make 14-6. Cassidy Mooneyhan cleared 13-8 ¼ (4.17m) and Eliza Aitken was not able to make the opening height of 13-2 ¼.
 
Sara Reifenrath had two strong runs on the track Thursday evening. She broke the school record in the 400-meters at 52.01 to qualify for Saturday's quarterfinal round with the 11^th fastest time of the first round. She won her heat in the 400. In the 200-meters, She wasn't able to take a top three automatic qualifying spot in her heat, but her time of 23.29 was the 20^th ranked time overall, advancing her to Saturday's quarterfinal in the event.
 
Averi Schmeichel also advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal races in one of her two events. In the 400-meter hurdles, Schmeichel's 58.00 was the 18^th ranked time, placing second in her heat and advancing to Saturday. She also ran in the 100 hurdles, placing 31^st with a time of 13.46.
 
In other field event action, Lydia Knapp and Delaney Smith hit the ring for the hammer throw. The top 12 punched tickets to Eugene, Oregon in the event, and Knapp wound up placing 13^th with a throw of 205-2 (62.93m). Delaney Smith took 39^th with a throw of 180-4 (54.97m).
 
Hirata and Willis join Tre Young as the list of Coyotes with their tickets for the NCAA Championships locked up.
 
Nine Coyotes still have a chance to make the trip over the next two days. Friday, five Coyote men will get their chance at claiming a top 12 finish and moving on. Landon Olson and Joe Lynch compete in the men's high jump at 3:30 p.m. On the track, Jaden Damiano and Mikael Grace will run the 110-meter hurdles at 6:15 p.m. and Mason Sindelar will run the 800-meters at 7:05 p.m.
 
Saturday, four Coyote women will fight for spots in Eugene, needing a top 12 finish in their event to advance. Lydia Knapp will throw in the discus at 1 p.m. and Danii Anglin will compete in the high jump at 3:30 p.m.. On the track, Reifenrath will run in the 400-meters (6:50 p.m.) and the 200-meters (7:50 p.m.) with Averi Schmeichel running the 400-meter hurdles (7:25 p.m.).