BROOKINGS – SPEARFISH – Eyeing a last chance shot at qualifying at the NSIC Championships on Feb. 25-27, the University of Sioux Falls Track and Field Team competed at the Stinger Open in Spearfish and the SDSU Last Chance Meet on Saturday, Feb. 20.
 
In the two competitions, USF had a series of standout efforts, according to USF Director of Track and Field Doug Petersen.
 
"It was a nice way to end the regular season. The student-athletes had some outstanding efforts as we now look ahead to the NSIC Championships," said Petersen.
 
Stinger Invite Breakdown -
 
In the men's mile, Aaron Voigt clocked a 4:27.48 and finished third  while Benjamin Morrison had a season-best at 4:27.64 and was fourth.  
 
Also for the men out west, Logan Hansen clocked a 2:01.27 for second in the 800-meters while Zach Matzner was seventh in 2:03.61. In the 3K, Christian Lietz was sixth in 9:14.95 while Micade Shumway finished seventh in 9:21.29. USF's 4x400 meter relay was fourth in 3:41.38 with a team of Hansen, Matzner, Voigt and Morrison.
 
As for the women's team, USF had four of the top-eight in the 800-meters. Annika Aho was fifth in 2:25.91 followed by Cassidy O'Meara in sixth in 2:27.13. In seventh place  of the 800-meters was Tianna Wald in 2:27.78 and Khot Juac was eighth in 2:33.34.
 
USF's 4x400 meter relay was second with a clocking of 4:15.20 with a team of Aho, O'Meara, Wald and Juac. Also for USF, Grace Beck was 10^th in the mile at 5:39.71.
 
SDSU Last Chance Review -  
At the SDSU Last Chance Meet, the Cougars also had some solid efforts and led by junior sprinter KaNya Henderson, who had a season-best in the 60-meters of 7.75. With that clocking, she finished fourth. Henderson also finished sixth in the 200 meters at 26.06.

Another big performance was by Kayla Andersen, who had personal best throw in the weight of 17.48m (57' 4") hitting a provisional mark for the NCAA DII nationals and ranking her 24th in the nation. In placing sixth at the SDSU meet, she recorded the fourth best indoor throw all-time at USF. 

In the 400 meters, Emma Kenkel was fifth with a season-best clocking of 59.26. USF's 4x400 M Relay was third in 4:17.78 with a team of Kenkel, Zoe Cigard, Anna Kenny and Emily Swanson.
 
In the 600 meters, Zoe Cigard was fifth in 1:40.67, which was just off her season-best of 1:40.32 at the MSU Triangular.  In the mile run at SDSU, Lauren Wells was eighth in 5:13.31.
 
Taylor Stoltz had another strong effort in the high jump at 5-03 (1.60m) but was just short of her season best 5-3.75 (MSU Triangular).
 
In the men's competition, USF had a career-best effort from Jake Person in the pole vault as he vaulted a season-best 13-11 ½ (4.25m) and finished ninth.
 
Junior Nate Andrusick placed sixth in the 60-meters at 7:02, just off his career-best of 7.01 and was seventh in the 200 meters as he clocked 22.64.
 
Also for USF, Christian Riley was eighth in the long jump at 21-03 ½ (6.49m) and Steven Miner finished eighth in the high jump as he went 6-01 (1.85m) at SDSU Meet. USF also had an eighth-place finish from Isiah Dancy at 42-08.25 (13.01m) in the triple jump.
 
In the 400 meters, Jayden Slaba was ninth at 51.59 and in the 3,000 meters, Justin Steffensmeier had a clocking of 9:12.85 which was sixth at the SDSU meet.