VERMILLION, S.D. – Led by another strong performances in the throws, led by Emma Hertz, and strength across field running events, the University of Sioux Falls Track and Field Team had a solid showing at the Dakota Realty Invitational held at the Mildred Hillenbrand Track in the DakotaDome at USD. Both USF teams placed second, outpointing DI Oral Roberts in both team races.

In the women's team results, South Dakota was the winner with 186 points followed by USF at 112. Oral Robert finished third with 84 followed by UNO, 72; and Wayne State, 70. In the men's team result, USF was first at 195 and followed by USF at 96. Oral Roberts was third with 87 and Wayne State, fourth at 69.
 USF Head Coach Doug Petersen was pleased with his team's effort.  In total, USF had 20 top five finishes across the men's and women's events in USF's second competition of the season. The men's team had nine top-five results while the women's squad added 11.

"I think we had some great performances and for that I am proud of this team," said Petersen. "Generally, we had good intensity and showed good fight in all the competition as we competed with DI South Dakota, DII Wayne State and others. It was a pretty good day," he said. 

Women's Breakdown -
Emma Hertz, reigning NSIC Women's Field Athlete of the Week, against showed that she is one of the best throwers in the area. She not only won the shot put with her second and USF's second-best indoor throw but she unleashed a personal-best in the weight throw of 59'05.75 (18.13m) to place third. Her weight throw ranks second all-time at USF and placed her third in the competition. Also in the weight throw, senior Kayla Andersen was sixth at 55-04 (16.87), Miranda Phipps, 10th, 49-07 (15.11m), Kourtney Rozeboom, 11th, 49-06.50 (15.10m); and Mackenzie Bengtson, 12th, 49'04.5 (15.05m).  In the shot put, Hertz took the title with the second-best indoor shot put throw at USF by tossing the implement, 49-05.75 (15.08m). Also in the shot put, Kourtney Rozeboom was 10^th (39-05.75, 12.03m); Bailey Rudebusch, 11^th (39-05.75, 11.83m); Kayla Anderson, 12^th (38-06.25, 11.74m) and Cali Boden, 13^th (38-04, 11.68m).

In the long jump, Natalie Meyers finished second by going 17-03 (5.26M) while Cassidy Noeldner was sixth (15-09.25 (4.81m) and CeCe Will, ninth, 13-03 (4.06m).
Sophomore Taylor Stoltz had a solid day as she finished second in the high jump at 5-03.25 (1.61m). It was a mark that ranks fifth best all-time indoors at USF and fell just short of her career best of 5'4.50 in 2020 which ranks third. Also in the high jump freshman Avery Bartunek was ninth (4-09.25, 1.46m) and freshman Cece Will was 10^th (4-07.25, 1.41m).

In the triple jump, Noeldner finished second in 34'08.75 (10.59m). Bartunek was eighth with a jump of 31-09 (9.68m). 

Senior Emily Olson had a solid performance in the women's indoor pentathlon by finishing fifth with 3,015 points. It was a mark that ranked fifth all-time at USF and just off her career best of 3,157 in 2020. Freshman Emily Swanson was 10^th with 2,633 points in her first career pentathlon.

Junior All-American KaNya Henderson placed third with a season-best 7.89 in the 60-meters. While it is just off her school record mark of 7.55 of a year ago, it would rank tied for fifth all-time at USF. Also in the 60-meters, Jailah Brice-Moore was eighth (7.99); Mercy Oyadare, 13^th (8.11), Meyers, 16^th (8.37) and Cassie Hohrman, 17^th (8.67).

In the 60-meter hurdles, Brice-Moore was also eighth (9.48) with Meara Beighley, ninth (10.11). 

In the 4x400-meter relay, the Cougars placed fifth with a relay team of Emma Kenkel, Holly Mayers, Myah Roggenbuck and Zoe Cigard. Kenkel was also fifth in the 400-meters (1:01.80). Cigard was eighth (1:04.30) and Roggenbuck, 10^th (1:06.28) in the 400 meters.

In the 800-meter run, Annika Aho was fifth in 2:23.75. Others in the race included junior Tianna Wald, seventh (2.25.98); sophomore Cassidy O'Meara, ninth (2:26.93); and freshman Khot Juac, 10^th (2:27.16) and Josey Boyd, 12^th (2:34.12).

USF had strong performances in the 3K and mile run. Freshman Grace Beck followed up a win a week ago with a fifth place finish in the 3K with a clocking of 10:56.12. In the mile run, sophomore Lauren Wells was fifth in 5:29.09 while freshman Moriah Bullerman was 18^th in 6:05.31. Oyadare placed 12^th in the 200-meters (27.74) with Hohrman, 14^th (29.25).

In the pole vault, Carolyn Bradley was 11^th at 10-09 (3.28M) in her first competition of the season. McKenna Comstock placed 13th at 9-03.25 (2.83M).
 
Men's Results
In the weight throw, senior Patrick Hagan registered a top-10 mark at USF with his sixth-place throw of 53-05.75 (16.30m). While he has a better career mark (56-7.5, 2019), it would rank seventh all-time at USF. Also in the weight throw, freshman Marek Rex was eighth (43-08, 13.31m); freshman Brett Deschler, 11^th (39-09.75, 12.12m) and sophomore Jaymeson Wolkow, 12^th (39-06.5, 12.05m).

Freshman Dawson Davito led three placers in the shot put with a third place showing of 46-06 (14.17m). Hagan was fourth in 44-06.25 (13.57m) with Wolkow, fifth, 40-08.75 (12.41M.).

USF had a strong 3K performance, which was led by junior David Ecker, who was third (8:52.74) with Aaron Voigt, fourth (8:55.32) while freshman Ben Morrison took eighth (9:00.97).

Sophomore Isiah Dancy took fourth in the triple jump (41-08-12.7m). Also in the jumps Christian Riley came up big with a second place finish (21-05.25-6.53m). Dancy was fifth (19-08 – 5.99m).
 
USF also had a fifth-place finished from freshman Ben Mandel in the 60-meter hurdles as he clocked 8.90.

USF placed runners from 7-12^th in the mile run with freshman Zach Matzner finished seventh (4:39.77). Also for the Cougars, Justin Steffenmeier, eighth (4:43.89); Wil Modjeski, ninth (4:44.32); Edwin Iraheta, 11^th (5:02.20) and Scott Obago, 12^th (5:12.92).

Junior Nate Andrusick had a pair of solid efforts in the sprints. He was seventh in the 200-meter dash (23.69) while Mandel was 10^th (25.05). Andrusick was ninth (7.19) in the 60-meters with Xavier Blackwell, 12^th (7.93). In the 400-meters, Jayden Slaba was 11^th (53.17) while Robert Rauh was 13^th (58.40) and Aweys Maalim, 14^th (59.80). In addition, senior Logan Hansen placed 12^th (2:03.28) in the 800-meters.

In the men's indoor pentathlon, Ethan Holm was second with 2,474 points. The USF men's 4x400-meter relay of Slaba, Riley, Maalim and Rauh was seventh (3:48.77).