SIOUX FALLS -- After opening with a pair of outstanding efforts at Wayne State and then the Dakota Realty Invite hosted by USD, the University of Sioux Falls Men's and Women's Track and Field Team will compete at the Bearcat Open on Feb. 5-6 at Hughes Fieldhouse in Maryville, Mo.

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, fans will not be allowed to attend in person. However, a live stream of all the action will be provided on The MIAA Network and live results will be available courtesy of Black Squirrel Timing. USF fans can follow along at the following links -  Live Stats, Watch Live and Heat Sheets.

Events on Saturday begin with running events at 9 am and field events starting at 9:45 am. The competition on Friday (Feb. 5) is underway. Running events start at 5:30 pm. Multi-event competition, which includes Emily Olson and Emily Swanson of the USF Women's Team and Ethan Holm of the USF Men's Team is underway today.
 
USF Track and Field has opened with a flurry of outstanding efforts -
After more than 10 months away from competition, the Cougars opened the season at the Wayne State Indoor Classic on Jan. 16 and then competed at Dakota Realty Invitational at the University of South Dakota. The Cougars Women's squad placed second with 112 points and the USF Men's squad was also second with 96 points. In total, USF had 20 top-five finishes across the men's and women's events at USD.

Leading the women's squad was Emma Hertz, who has been named the NSIC Athlete of the Week, and won her second shot put title of the season. She had her second-best indoor throw (15.08 meters). She also placed third in the weight throw with a personal best of 59'05.75 (18.13M). That weight throw ranks second all-time at USF. At the Wayne State Meet, Hertz had a recording-setting performance in the shot put. Hertz, a senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., who has two indoor All-American honors, won both the weight throw and shot put and recorded NCAA DII provisional marks. The NSIC leader in both the shot put and weight throw. She broke her own record (49-9.25) with a toss of 15.20 meters or 49-10.50 with the nation's second best throw. She also registered a top-three weight throw at USF with a winning toss of 17.92 meters or 58'9.50.  

Also at the Dakota Realty Meet, Natalie Meyer was second in the long jump (17-03) while sophomore Taylor Stoltz was second in the high jump at 5-03.25 (1.61m), which is a mark that ranks fifth best all-time indoors at USF and was just short of her career-best of 5'4.50 in 2020 (third all-time). Cassidy Noeldner was second in the triple jump (34'08.75) while senior Emily Olson placed fifth in the indoor pentathlon at 3,015 points. Junior All-American KaNya Henderson was third in the 60-meters with a season-best 7.89 (5^th all-time at USF). USF also had a fifth place show in the 4x40 meter relay with Emma Kenkel, Holly Mayers, Myah Roggenbuck and Zoe Cigard. Both Annika Aho (2.23.75, 800-meters) and Grace Beck (10:56.12, 3,000-meters) placed fifth.

The Men's Team was paced by Patrick Hagan who had a top-10 mark in the weight throw (7^th all-time) at 53-05.75 (16.3m) for sixth place. Freshman Dawson Davito led three USF placers in the shot put with a third-place showing of 46-06. (14.17M). In the 3,000 meters, junior David Eckert was third (8:52.74) and Aaron Voigt, fourth (8:55.32). Sophomore Isiah Dancy placed fourth in the triple jump (41-08, 12-07m) while Christian Riley was second in the long jump (21-05.25, 6.53m). Also Ethan Holm was second in the men's pentathlon with 2,474 points.

In total, the USF Women's squad picked up six titles and had 23 top-five finishes at the meet Wayne State Meet.. Several student-athletes won their first-ever title including freshman Emily Swanson in the pole vault, Natalie Meyers in the long jump, sophomore Annika Aho in the 1000 meters, and freshman Grace Beck in the one-mile run. All-American junior sprinter KaNya Henderson also won a title the 60 meters. In addition, Jailah Brice-Moore had a pair of second place finishes in 60-meter hurdles and 60-meter dash. 

USF Men's Team also had a solid day at the Wayne State meet with titles from a pair of freshman, Zachary Matzner in the 1000 meters and Benjamin Morrison in the 3000 meters at the Wayne State Indoor Classic. Senior throws standout Patrick Hagan also had a solid performance with third place in both the weight throw and shot put. Overall, USF had 18 top-three finishes.