Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

University of South Dakota Athletics

Now Loading:
Track and Field

2024-25 Track and Field Roster

Aaron Mercado
Aaron Mercado
Molly Sheppard

Alayna Falak

  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Watertown, S.D.
  • Highschool Watertown HS
  • Major Accounting

Biography

Career Honors & Awards
• USTFCCCA All-Academic (2022-23, 2023-24)
• Summit League Commissioner’s List (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)
• Summit League Honor Roll (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)
 
Career Bests

2024-25
Indoor Track & Field
Took eighth at the Summit League Championships with a clearance of 12-4 ½ (3.77m) in the pole vault... had a season's best clearance of 12-6 ¼ (3.82m) at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational... placed inside the top 10 in four meets during the season.
 
Outdoor Track & Field
Competed at the USD Twilight… placed 10th with a clearance of 10-8 ¾ (3.27m).

2023-24
Indoor Track & Field
Placed fourth at the Summit League Championship with a personal best 13-5 in the pole vault…placed third at the SDSU Holiday Open and the Tyson Invitational…totaled six top eight finishes.

Outdoor Track & Field
Won the pole vault at the Mt. SAC Relays with a 13-3.5 clearance…placed 11th at the Summit League Championships with a vault of 11-10.75…recorded six top eight finishes.

2022-23
Indoor Track & Field
Placed fifth in the pole vault at the Summit League Championships … member of the Coyotes’ Summit League Championship title-winning team … vaulted a personal best height of 13-2 ¼ (4.02m) in front of the home crowd in the DakotaDome … took third in the pole vault at the SDSU Holiday Open … vaulted 12-7 ½ (3.85m) at the South Dakota Kickoff … notched five top-10 finishes during the season … named USTFCCCA All-Academic.
 
Outdoor Track & Field
Placed sixth in the pole vault at the Summit League Championships with a height of 12-3 ½ (3.75m) … cleared a season-best height of 12-9 (3.89m) at the UDS Tune-Up … tallied four top-10 finishes during the season … made the Summit League honor roll … named to the Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence.

2021-22
Indoor Track & Field
Did not compete.
 
Outdoor Track & Field
Did not compete.

2020-21
Indoor Track & Field
Placed fifth in the pole vault at the Summit League Championships with a vault of 12-8 ¼ (3.87m) … also finished 12th in the high jump at the league meet … posted a season-best vault of 12-8 ¾ (3.88m) in placing fifth at the USD Invitational … took fifth at the SDSU Last Chance meet in the vault with a jump of 12-4 ½ (3.77m) … notched a season-best of 5-3 ¼ (1.61m) in the high jump at the Dakota Quad Classic … recorded 12 top-10 finishes during the season … made the Summit League honor roll.
 
Outdoor Track & Field
Did not compete.

Prep
A two-time South Dakota Class AA Track and Field Championships MVP ... won South Dakota state titles in the pole vault, high jump and long jump during high school career ... her senior track and field season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... owns a personal best pole vault clearance of 12-7 ½ that ranks second in South Dakota state high school history ... also holds Watertown's school record in the high jump with a clearance of 5-8 ... off the track, she's a level 10 gymnast and has qualified for seven USA Gymnastics regional meets ... captured seven South Dakota state gymnastics titles, including the three-straight years on the beam ... a member of the National Honor Society and an honor roll student.

Personal
Daughter of Bert and Beth Falak ... accounting major.

Historical Player Information

  • 2020-21Freshman

    High Jump and Pole Vault
  • 2021-22Redshirt Freshman

    Jumps
  • 2022-23Redshirt Sophomore

    Jumps
  • 2023-24Junior

    Jumps
  • 2024-25Senior

    Jumps