VERMILLION, S.D. – Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Lucky Huber has announced 33 additions to the track and field program for the 2025-26 year.
 
"As a staff, we are very excited about this recruiting class," Huber said. "We filled in some of the holes left by the 2025 graduates. We believe many of these new Coyotes can make an immediate impact on the program!"
 
The incoming class includes 30 freshmen and three transfers.
 
Lillian Allison (Throws; Green River, Wyo.)
Lillian Allison will join the Coyote throws squad this fall after earning all-state honors three times for Green River High School in Wyoming. Allison is a school record holder in the weight throw and received three all-state indoor track and field honors and two all-conference outdoor track and field honors. She holds personal bests of 131-9 in the discus, 40-5 in the shot put, and 41-4 in the weight throw. Also competing in football and co-ed cheer, Allison was a four-time Honor Roll student. She intends to major in Kinesiology and Sport Management and Education at USD.
 
Drew Beason (Distance; Ankeny, Iowa)
A four-time place-winner in cross country and a five-time place winner in track at the Iowa Class 4A level, Drew Beason is joining the Yotes after a successful prep career at Ankeny High School. This spring, Beason placed third in the 1,500 and fourth in the 3,000 with personal bests of 4:36.27 and 10:01.58. Her best finish at the state cross country meet came as a junior, where she finished fifth in 18:07, and she holds a personal best of 18:01 at the 5k distance. Beason intends to major in strategic communications at USD.
 
Emma Carlsson (Sprints; Stockholm, Sweden)
Emma Carlsson is one of four international athletes joining the Yote track and field program this fall and she will compete in the sprint events. Carlsson is an Under-18 Swedish National Champion in the 100 meters and competed on the National 4x100 team at the 2023 Under-20 European Championships. She holds personal bests of 7.64 seconds in the 60, 12.05 seconds in the 100, and 24.94 seconds in the 200. Carlsson plans to major in medical biology at South Dakota.
 
Julia Eggert (Sprints; Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Julia Eggert is a sprinter from O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls. She's placed at the Class AA State meet in the 400 five times and placed runner-up in the 200 at this spring's state meet. She ran on the state champion sprint medley as well. Her personal bests include a 25.19 in the 200 and a 56.07 in the 400. Eggert was a part of O'Gorman's 2021 state track championship squad. She also competed in basketball, cross country, and soccer, winning a state title in basketball. A National Honor Society member, Eggert plans to major in kinesiology & sport management.
 
Ella Ford (Distance; Omaha, Neb.)
Coming to South Dakota by way of Elkhorn North High School, Ella Ford will compete in cross country and run distance on the Yote track and field squad. She holds a personal best of 18:40 in the 5k distance in cross country and has personal bests of 5:07 in the 1,600, and 11:04 in the 3,200 meters. Ford is an academic all-conference and all-state honoree and a National Honors Society member who plans to major in education at USD.
 
Rylie Hansen (Pole Vault/Jumps; Mankato, Minn.)
A pole vaulter and jumper from Mankato, Rylie Hansen was a four-time all-state honoree for Mankato East. She won a state championship in the pole vault and long jump, and placed runner-up at the state meet in the pole vault and triple jump over her career with the Cougars. Hansen holds school records in the pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and 60-meters. Her personal bests include 12-9 in the pole vault, 38-11 ½ in the triple jump, and 19-1 ¾ in the long jump. Also an academic all-state in track and gymnastics and a National Honor Society member, Hansen intends to major in medical biology at USD.
 
Caelan Harland (Pole Vault; Excello, Mo.)
Coming to South Dakota off a USATF Under 20 runner-up finish in the pole vault this summer, Caelan Harland will join South Dakota as a four-time state champion, a Missouri Class 3A record holder, and a five-time all-American in the pole vault. Harland holds a personal best of 17-6 in the pole vault. At the USATF U20 Championships this summer, Harland cleared 17-5 on his first attempt to place second. He intends to major in business at USD.
 
Kenya Harris (Sprints/Jumps; Chicago, Ill.)
Kenya Harris is an academic all-state athlete and a school record holder in the triple jump and 4x200 at Sioux Falls Lincoln. She competed in five events for the Patriots, running in the 200, 100 hurdles, and 300 hurdles and jumping in both the long and triple jumps. Her personal best in the triple jump of 40-1 ¼ is a school record and she is the Howard Wood Dakota Relays record holder in the triple jump at 39-8 ¼. She was named Lincoln High School's Most Outstanding Senior Girls Track and Field Athlete this spring. Harris, also a basketball player for the Patriots, intends to major in mathematics at USD.
 
Eva Hartzell (Hurdles; Norfolk, Neb.)
Holding three school records at Norfolk Catholic, Eva Hartzell joins the USD hurdle crew this fall. A six-time state medalist in Nebraska, including runner-up finishes in the 100 hurdles and the 4x100 relays as a junior, Hartzell holds personal bests of 14.96 in the 100 hurdles, 44.69 in the 300 hurdles, and 59.31 in the 400-meters, all of which are school records. Outside of her success on the track for the Knights, Hartzell is an all-conference and all-state basketball player as well. A Salutatorian and the Norfolk Daily News Student Athlete of the Year, Hartzell intends to major in biochemistry at USD.
 
Sophie Humphrey (Hurdles/Jumps; Battle Creek, Neb.)
Sophie Humphrey is a four-time state qualifier for Battle Creek, competing in the 100 meter hurdles, triple jump, long jump and the 4x100 relay at the state meet. She medaled at state three times in the 100 hurdles, twice in the triple jump, once in both the long jump and the 4x100. She holds personal bests of 17-4 ¼ in the long jump, 36-9 in the triple jump, 14.99 in the 100 hurdles, and 48.69 in the 300 hurdles. She earned all-conference honors in both basketball and volleyball as a three-sport standout for Battle Creek. A National Honors Society member and all-state academic in three sports, Humphrey plans to major in business at USD.
 
Jordyn Larsen (Sprints; Custer, S.D.)
Racking up 19 South Dakota Class A state medals from Custer, Jordyn Larsen joins the Coyotes sprints crew this fall. Larsen swept the 100 and 200 meter Class A titles this spring, also running on the state title 4x100 and state runner-up 4x200 relay squads. She won the 100 meter 'gold medal' this spring, running the fastest time across all classes in the event at the state meet, clocking 11.79. Her personal bests include the 11.79 100 meters and 24.25 in the 200. Competing in both basketball and volleyball, Larsen was a three-sport athlete for the Wildcats. She plans to major in dental hygiene at USD.
 
Charlie Larson (Mid Distance; Pelican Rapids, Minn.)
Charlie Larson competed in cross country and track and field at Pelican Rapids High School, earning all-state honors four times in cross country and five times in track and field. He holds personal bests of 15:55 in the 5k distance in cross country and 4:21 in the 1,600 on the track. An all-conference basketball player and a baseball player for the Vikings, Larson competed in four sports. He was academic all-state four times and is a National Honors Society member. Larson plans to major in finance at USD.
 
Emma Marshall (Sprints; Irene, S.D.)
A two-time South Dakota Class B Champion in the 400 for Centerville, Emma Marshall comes to South Dakota with a personal best of 56.42 in the 400 meters. Marshall placed in the 400 five times and also earned runner-up finishes in the long jump (2023) and the 400 (2022) and placed third in the 200 and long jump this spring. Her personal best in the 200 is 25.26 and in the long jump is 17-9. On the hardwood, Marshall helped the Tornadoes to a state Class B title in 2024 and a third place finish in 2025. An academic all-state competitor, Marshall plans to major in computer science at USD.
 
Carson McInerney (Throws; Sioux City, Iowa)
Carson McInerney joins the South Dakota track and field program as a thrower. A three-time state qualifier and a state runner-up in the discus, McInerney holds a personal best of 186-0 in the discus. He also has bests of 51-10 ½ in the shot put and 166-4 in the hammer throw. McInerney is a three-time Iowa USATF Field Athlete of the Year. Outside of track and field, McInerney was on the state runner-up football team and the state semifinalist basketball squad for Bishop Heelan. He was academic all-state and academic all-district for the Crusaders, and plans to major in business analytics at South Dakota.
 
David Ndong (Jumps; Sioux Falls, S.D.)
David Ndong was the South Dakota Class AA high jump co-champion in 2023 and 2024 for the Sioux Falls Roosevelt Rough Riders. He is also a school record holder in the triple jump at Roosevelt. He holds a personal best of 6-7 in the high jump and 46-3 in the triple jump, which he accomplished at the Class AA state meet this spring to place third. Ndong, also a football player for Roosevelt, intends to major in secondary education at South Dakota.
 
Dutch Neuweiler (Pole Vault; Arvada, Colo.)
Dutch Neuweiler joins the South Dakota pole vault crew this fall. The Ralston Valley Mustang was a first team all-state, school record holder, and three-time first team all-conference pole vaulter. He holds a personal best of 15-10. Neuweiler plans to major in business and marketing at USD.
 
Ty Petrocco (Distance; Sturgis, S.D.)
Ty Petrocco joins the Coyote distance squad after two all-state cross country selections and eight state placing finishes on the track for Sturgis Brown High School. Petrocco earned five conference championships and anchored Sturgis Brown's 4x800 squad to a state title in 2024. He holds school records in the 3,200 and sprint medley on the track and set the school record at each course he competed on during his senior cross country season. His personal bests include a cross country 5k of 15:47, and track bests of 4:21 in the 1,600 and 9:27 in the 3,200. A National Honor Society member, Petrocco majors to major in finance.
 
Jacie Rexilius (Sprints; Lincoln, Neb.)
A Nebraska Class B State Record holder in the 200 (24.21) and a state meet record holder in both the 100 (11.97) and 200 (24.55), Jacie Rexilius is joining the Yote sprint squad this fall. Rexilius was the Class B State champion in both the 100 and 200 meters as a junior, running record times in each race. She was a state qualifier and placed inside the top eight in both events each year from her freshman through junior seasons. She holds personal best of 11.92 and 24.21, both of which are school records. A three-sport athlete, also competing in soccer and basketball, Rexilius is a National Honors Society Member and intends to major in exercise science at USD.
 
Kali Ringstmeyer (Sprints; Pierre, S.D.)
A four-time state champion for the Govenors, Kali Ringstmeyer will compete in the sprint events at South Dakota. Ringstmeyer swept the 100 and 200 Class AA titles at this year's state meet, including a Class record 11.80 in the 100. Her personal bests include an 11.77 in the 100 and 24.49 in the 200. She also ran on the state champion and record holding 4x200 this spring. Ringstmeyer is also a four-time ESD Champion. A National Honor Soceity, Ringstmeyer plans to major in elementary education at South Dakota.
 
Dakota Ritchie (Jumps; Brisbane, Australia)
One of two Australians joining the Coyotes this year, Dakota Ritchie is a jumper who holds school records in both the long and triple jumps. Her personal bests include 18-8 ¾ (5.71-meters) in the long jump and 39-5 ¾ (12.03m) in the triple jump. She was the Athletics MVP and Captain at her school, and was the U18 Oceania Championship triple jump winner. At the 2024 Australian U18 Nationals, Ritchie placed second in the triple jump and 7^th in the long jump. She plans to major in neuroscience at South Dakota.
 
Gabby Rooks (Throws; Holdrege, Neb.)
Gabby Rooks joins the Yote Throws squad this fall after a strong prep career at Holdrege High School. A four-year letterwinner in track and cheer, Rooks holds personal bests of 134-8 in the discus and 38-8 ½ in the shot put. Rooks also competed in basketball and volleyball. She plans to major in nursing.
 
Braxton Smith (Sprints; Waverly, Neb.)
Braxton Smith is a three-time state champion for the Vikings, winning the 400-meters twice (2023, 2024) and the 200-meters once (2025). He holds personal bests of 48.84 in the 400 and 21.29 in the 200. Smith placed runner-up to fellow incoming Coyote Jett Tingelhoff in the 400 this spring at the Nebraska Class B state meet. Smith also competed in football. He intends to major in accounting at USD.
 
Ciana Stiefel (Pole Vault; Piedmont, S.D.)
A three-time South Dakota Class A state champion and a three-time South Dakota all classes state champion in the pole vault, Ciana Stiefel comes to USD as the Class A state record holder and the South Dakota prep indoor state record holder from Custer High School. Stiefel holds a personal best of 12-9 in the pole vault and was the Class A Girl's Field Event Outstanding Athlete of the Year. Stiefel intends to major in kinesiology at USD.
 
Carson Stiff (Throws; Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Carson Stiff comes to South Dakota was the top high school discus thrower in the state his senior year, ranking inside the top 45 nationally. He was the Howard Wood Dakota Relays and Eastern South Dakota (ESD) Conference champion in the event this year. His personal bests include 191-5 in the discus, 46-2 in the shot put, and 143-5 in the javelin. He also was an all-conference football player for the Harrisburg Tiger football team. A National Honors Society member, Stiff plans to major in medical biology at South Dakota.
 
Maya Tedder (Hurdles; Sydney, Australia)
Maya Tedder is one of four international athletes and two Australians joining USD this fall. Tedder's athletic accomplishments include a gold in the 4x100 at the Independent Girls' Schools Sports Association meet. She was also a New South Wales State champion in the 4x100 and all-Schools in the 100-meter hurdles. Her personal bests include a 14.32 in the 100 hurdles and a 12.5 in the 100. She intends to major in legal studies at USD.
 
Jett Tingelhoff (Sprints; Omaha, Neb.)
Jett Tingelhoff is a sprinter from Elkhorn North. He comes to USD after winning a state title in the 400 and placing runner up once and runner up in the 200. He holds personal bests of 10.86 in the 100, 21.67 in the 200, and 48.08 in the 400. An honor roll student, Tingelhoff plans to major in exercise science.
 
Olivia Thiele (Sprints; Mahtomedi, Minn.)
Olivia Thiele joins South Dakota as a sprinter after earning all-conference and all-state honors three straight seasons. She was a part of a section championships in 2022 and 2023 and a conference title in 2022. Thiele holds personal bests of 25.78 in the 200 and 57.9 in the 400. A National Honors Society member, Thiele intends to major in medical biology at South Dakota.
 
Sarah VanDeBerg (Mid Distance; Brandon, S.D.)
A six-time state champion in Class AA in South Dakota, Sarah VanDeBerg joins the Coyotes this fall. VanDeBerg will run middle distance events on the track, and holds personal bests of 2:13 in the 800 and 4:58 in the 1,600 meters. She was a Class AA state champion in the 4x400 relay twice and in the 4x800 relay four times as a Lynx. She was on three state champion squads in her high school career. A National Honors Society member and academic all-state honoree, VanDeBerg plans to major in medical biology at USD.
 
Mason Weidner (Sprints; Norfolk, Neb.)
Mason Weidner comes to South Dakota after a strong prep career at Norfolk Catholic. As a Knight, Weidner was a two-time state qualifier and won the 4x100 state title as a junior. He holds personal bests of 11.23 in the 100 and 22.9 in the 200. Off the track, Weidner was a two-time all-state football player at Norfolk Catholic. He intends on majoring in finance at South Dakota.
 
Avery Winter (Sprints/Hurdles; Waukee, Iowa)
Avery Winter joins South Dakota as a sprinter/hurdler from Waukee Northwest High School in Iowa. A four-time first team all-state and all-conference athlete, Winter earned 14 state medals and 15 Drake Relays medals during her prep career. She holds school records in the 200, 400, and 400 hurdles with personal bests of 25.05, 56.01, and 1:01.34 in each respective event. She also competed in diving for the Wolves. A National Honors Society member, Winter plans to major in nursing at USD.
 
TRANSFERS
Brei Christoffer (Hurdles; Estherville, Iowa; Clarke University)
Brei Christoffer competed at Clarke University, where she was an outdoor national qualifier and school record holder in three events. She holds records in the javelin (131-8), 100 meter hurdles (14.14), and the 100 meters (12.36). Christoffer competed in multis for Clarke, holding best scores of 2,782 in the pentathlon and 3,744 in the heptathlon. As a prep athlete at Estherville Lincoln Central, she qualified for state for three consecutive years and was all-conference each year as well. Christoffer was a five-sport athlete in high school, competing in softball, basketball, cross country, and volleyball to go with track and field. Christoffer plans to major in biomedical engineering at USD.
 
Charles Cruse (Pole Vault; Bloomington, Ill.; Illinois State)
Charles Cruse joins the Yotes after a successful stint at Illinois State as the outdoor school record holder in the pole vault. Cruse is a two-time NCAA West First Round qualifier and placed third at the 2024 Indoor Missouri Valley Conference meet. He was the 2024 Drake Relays champion, holds a personal best of 17-3 ½, and is twice an USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honoree. As a prep at Normal Community High School, Cruse won the Illinois Class 3A State Title in the pole vault. For his senior season with the Yotes, he intends to major in finance.
 
Levi Hill (Distance; Ankeny, Iowa; Northern Iowa)
Hill joins USD following two years at Northern Iowa, where he placed inside the top 50 at the Missouri Valley Conference cross country meet and competed in the distance medley at the conference meet as well. Hill ran 25:00 in the 8k MVC meet and 32:30 at the NCAA Regionals. His 1,500-meter best at UNI was 3:57. As a prep at Ankeny High School, Hill was a Iowa Class 4A state track qualifier in the 1,600 and 4x800 and was state cross country qualifier. Hill intends to major in business at South Dakota.