BURNSVILLE, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Indoor Women's and Men's Track and Field Teams have been projected to finish ninth and 10th, respectively, in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, according to preseason coaches poll released Thursday.

Led by USF Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Doug Petersen, the Cougars return experience in the sprints, distance, throws and jumps and will use that to try and better their projected finish. The USF Men's Team was 12th a year ago with two points. As for the USF Women, they placed 12th with 20 points at the 2020 Indoor Championships.

In the Women's Track and Field Coaches Poll, the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks, fresh off their fourth NSIC Championship, were picked to win the NSIC. The Mavericks received 12 first place votes and tallied 194 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana (181) and the University of Mary (172). The Cougars earned 91 ballot points in being picked ninth. As for the Men's Poll, the ten-time defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC. The Mavericks received 10 first place votes and tallied 120 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana, which was second with 112 points and the other two first-place votes. USF Men earned 36 points in the 2020-21 poll.

USF Women's Preview – The USF Women's Track and Field Team will strive to better its 12th place finish of a year ago when the Cougars scored 20 points and had an NSIC title performance from Emma Hertz in the shot put. USF, which will be led by NSIC Field Athlete to Watch in Emma Hertz and middle distance and Track Athlete to Watch Morgan Gehl, has a strong record of standout efforts at the NSIC Meet.

In 2019-20, USF was 8th; sixth in 2018-19; sixth in 2017-18; 10th in 2016-17; eighth in 2015-16; eighth in 2014-15; and eighth in 2013-14. Hertz, a four-time all-American in the throws, is one of the team's leaders with 35 top-10 finishes and 19 titles with 10 second place finishes in either the shot put or discus and hammer throw indoor and outdoor during a stellar career. Gehl, who was All-NSIC in 2021, will lead a middle-distance group that includes Khot Juac, Karlee Simmons, Tianna Voight and Annika Aho.

Hertz will lead the way in the throws and ranks as one of the best ever at USF. A four-time All-American, including two at the 2021 Indoor Championships, she was seventh in the weight throw and eight in the shot put at the DII indoor championships a year ago. Hertz recorded 35 top-10 finishes and 19 titles with 10 second place finishes in either the shot put or discus and hammer throw indoor and outdoor. In addition, Hertz won the NSIC indoor title in the shot put in 2021 with seven top-five finishes and five-top three results at indoor/outdoor NSIC Championships. In the 2020-21 indoor competition, she had 13 top-eight finishes, six titles and 10- top three finishes in the throws. 

Gehl, who was All-NSIC in Cross Country after placing 22nd at the NSIC Championships this past fall, will compete in track and field for the first time at USF after a stellar career at Fulda, Minn., High School where she was a multi-place finisher.

USF will also have strength in the field events, led by sophomore Natalie Meyers, who nearly placed in the long jump a year ago. In the sprints, KaNya Henderson, who was all-American two years ago, will lead the away in the 60 and 200 meters. Emily Swanson will lead multi-event performers and strength in the field events while USF has several solid performers in the throws aside from Hertz.

"We have a great group of athletes that will be placing in the Championships and we look to improve on our placing from last years NSIC championships," said Petersen about his two teams who open the season this weekend. 


USF Men's Preview -- The USF Men's Track and Field Team will look to improve on its 12th place finish of a year ago with a group of talented returners and newcomers. Directed by USF Director of Track and Field Doug Petersen, the Cougars has a long history of success with a sixth place indoor finish in 2019-20, third in in 2018-19, second in 2016-17, sixth in 2015-16; third in 2013-14 and fourth in 2012-13.

This year, USF will lean on experience in the distance and field events. Junior David Ecker was named USF's Track Athlete to Watch as the school record holder in the 3K steeplechase (3rd outdoor, 2021) has had 15 top-five finishes in track and field/cross country. A CoSIDA Academic All-American and 8-time Academic All-NSIC honoree, he was All-NSIC in cross country with both Aaron Voigt and Jakob Hanna, who comprise a talented corps in the middle distance.

Sophomore Tyler Hiatt is USF's Field Athlete to Watch after transferring to USF from NDSU where he had four top-eight finishes indoors a year ago. He is a multiple state throws champion in South Dakota as a high school standout. Ben Mandel earned points in the hurdles a year ago and along with Isaiah Dancy, Steve Miner and others should make hurdles/field events a solid group of watch this year.

The 2021-22 NSIC indoor track & field season gets underway in December with the regular season culminating on Friday-Saturday, February 25-26 at the NSIC Championship held at Myers Fieldhouse in Mankato, Minnesota, hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Cougars will open the season on Dec. 3 at the SDSU Holiday Invitational and Multi. For USF's full schedule, click here.