SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League Outdoor Preseason Coaches Polls have been announced by the conference office Tuesday morning, with the South Dakota women picked second and men third.
 
Coming off runner-up finishes in both the men's and women's team competitions at the Indoor Championships at the end of February, the Coyotes are looking to improve as the weather turns and the attention shifts to outdoor season. South Dakota's women were picked second, receiving one first place vote. The men, also receiving a first place vote, were picked third.
 
The Coyote women were picked behind North Dakota State, who earned seven first place votes and 49 total points in the poll. USD received 41 points in the poll, followed by North Dakota (35), St. Thomas (29), and South Dakota State (29).
 
The Coyote men were picked third behind North Dakota State (36 points, 6 first place votes) and South Dakota State (29) in the poll. The Coyotes were one point behind SDSU, but come in ahead of North Dakota and St. Thomas at 15 points apiece.
 
Four Coyotes were also named Athletes to Watch ahead of outdoor competition. For the Coyote women, the Athletes to Watch are freshmen Drew Beason and Rylie Hansen, and for the Coyote men, freshman Andrew Cartier and sophomore Aidan Hedderman.
 
Beason is a distance runner, and has already made an impact on the Coyote distance program. She competed in the mile, 3000-meters, and 5000-meters at the Indoor Championships, placing inside the top 11 in each event. Her personal best from the indoor season in each of those events are also on the USD Indoor Top 10 list. Beason competed in the fall in cross country as well, placing 33^rd at the conference meet.
 
Hansen was one of the stories after day one of the Summit League Indoor Championships, as she recorded a personal best 19-11 in the long jump to win the event as a freshman. She added points to the team total in the pole vault as well, placing seventh at the conference meet. Hansen ranked first in the long jump and third in the pole vault in the Summit League at the conclusion of the indoor season. She was also in the top 20 in the triple jump.
 
Cartier joined South Dakota as a freshman at semester and made an impact at his first conference meet. He was runner-up in the triple jump with a personal best of 48-11. He also competed in the long jump during the season.
 
Hedderman completed his first season as a multis athlete this winter, placing fourth at the Indoor Championships in the heptathlon. Last outdoor season he competed in the 110-meter hurdles, placing 11^th at the Outdoor Championships.
 
The Coyote outdoor season begins Saturday at the Wildcat Classic Saturday in Wayne, Nebraska. The Summit League Outdoor Championships in Fargo, North Dakota are set for May 14-16.
   
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