BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Track and Field Team recorded seven program top-10 marks, had a title and eight top six placements in another strong effort to open the season as the Cougars competed at the SDSU DII Open on Friday (Jan. 21) at the Sanford –Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.

 "I was pleased with how things went. We are moving forward and making progress. I think today in this competition, we had a good eye opener and it was a good opportunity to grow," said USF Director of Track and Field Doug Petersen. "We are definitely going in the right direction," he said.

The Cougars, which will complete on Jan. 28-29 at the Mark Schuck Open and Multi at Mankato, Minn., finished ninth in the women's team race with 24 points while the men's team was 11^th with 28 points.

Women's Breakdown –
The USF Women's Team had a number of top 10 marks in program history. While senior Emma Hertz did not have a PR on Friday, she finished third in the weight throw with an NCAA DII provisional mark of 18.88 meters or 61-11.5. The mark is her second best throw of the season and her fourth best in her career. On Dec. 3, she set a school record with a throw of 63-2.25. Also in the weight throw, Mackenzie Bengtson was 11^th, 15.00 meters – 49-02.5; Kamry Lindsey, 32^nd, 12.78 meters – 41.11-25; Ally Welch, 40^th, 12.24 meters – 40-02 and Kayla Van Osdel, 44^th, 11.82 meters – 38-09.5.

In the 800-meters, Cassidy O'Meara had both a PR and a top-10 mark (9^th) by clocking a 2.20.64. In the same race Gracie Bucher was 14^th in 2:26.42 while Marcella Sierra was 26^th in 2:39.39. 

USF had a top-10 program mark in the 200 meters and in the 60-meter dash from KaNya Henderson. She was third in the 60-meter dash in 7.77 while Natalie Meyers was 13^th in 8.23 and Myah Roggenbuck, 18^th in 8.39. Henderson clocked a 25.88 in the 200-meters to finish eighth. Also in that race, Emma Kenkel was 28^th in 27.11 while Roggenbuck was 49^th in 28.18 and Jordan Hughes, 71^st, 29.58.

Sophomore Emily Swanson cracked USF's all-time indoor top-10 in the 60-meter hurdles by clocking a 9.42, which placed her seventh in the competition and 10^th all-time at USF.

In the pole vault, Kenna Comstock was 10^th but set her PR with a vault of 3.05 meters -- 10-00.25. Greta Snaza was 18^th in 2.75 meters – 9-00.25.

Swanson and freshman Abbigail Webb tied for 12^th in the high jump at 1.55 meters – 5-01.

USF had three competitors in the long jump as Natalie Meyers was 10^th in 16-08.5 while a pair of freshmen in Olivia Baumberger was 14^th in 4.95 meters – 16-03 and Makayla Keffeler, 30^th in 4.40 meters – 14.05.25.

Freshman Jessica Lutmer, who won her first title a week ago, was fifth in the 3,000-meters by clocking a 10:54.57 and earning her PR. Kayleigh Whipps finished sixth in the 3K in 11:07.17.  In the triple jump, Avery Bartunek was ninth in 10.12 meters – 33-02.50 while Hughes was 20^th in 8.73 meters – 28-07.75.

Kenkel also placed 12^th in the 400-meters in 1:00.50 while Holly Mayers was 21^st in 1:02.19.

In the mile run, Karlee Simmons had a PR and placed seventh in 5:26.26 while Tianna Voigt was ninth in 5:39.04 with Josie Boyd, 10^th in 5:40.22 while Moriah Bullerman was 11^th in 5:42.26.

In the shot put, Hertz was 19^th in the 11.61 meters – 38-01.25 while Van Osdel was 12^th in 12.46 meters – 40-10.5; Lindsey, 29^th, 11.28 meters  - 37-00.25 with Swanson, 32^nd, 10.75 meters – 35-03.25.

USF also had a 10^th place finish in the 4x400 meter relay. The team of Annika Aho, O'Meara, Tianna Voigt and Bucher clocked a 4:14.60. Also in the 4.x400 relay USF's team of Lutmer, Josie Boyd, Bullerman and Karlee Simmons was 22^nd in 4:35.19.


Men's Breakdown –
Leading the way for the men's squad was David Ecker, who won the 3,000-meters in 8:42.90 which was a top-10 program mark (10^th) but just off his career best of 8:41.96. He led five runners in the top 10 at the race. Aaron Voigt was third in 8:51.02 with Christian Lietz, sixth in 8:58.61 followed by Justin Steffenmeier, seventh, 9:08.03 with Miles Olofson, 10^th, 9:16.42.

In the throws, sophomore Tyler Hiatt continued his outstanding start to the season. He was sixth in the shot at 15.55 meters-51.00.25, which ranked ninth all-time. Earlier this year he had the program's second-best indoor shot put mark of 54-10.75. Also in the shot put today, senior Patrick Hagan was 18^th in 13.70 meters – 44-11.5 while sophomore Jaymeson Wolkow was 28^th in 12.97-meters – 42-06.75. 

Hiatt placed ninth in the weight throw by going 16.85 meters – 55-03.4, which would rank eighth all-time at USF but short of his best at USF of 58-5.25 (3^rd all-time). Also in the weight throw, Hagan was 14^th in 15.87 meters – 52-00.75 with Wolkow, 23^rd, 14.84 meters – 48-08.25 while Brett Deschler was 29^th, 13.90 meters – 45-07.25 and Marek Rex, 34^th, 13.16 meters – 43-02.25.

In the 1,000 meters, sophomore Zach Matzner finished fifth with a PR of 2:37.02 while Wil Modjeski was ninth in 2:42.06.  Caleb Rivera was 15^th in the mile run in 4:30.55 while Kade Bullion placed 20^th in 4:32.07 while Ethan Kraft was 27^th in 4:41.66.

Other results include sophomore Ben Mandel, who clocked an 8.56 to finish ninth while Joe Donahue was 18^th in 7.17 in the 60-meter dash. In the 400-meter dash, Robert Rauh was 39^th in 54.25.

USF also had two competitors in the 800-meters as Diego Jaimes was 19^th in 2:04.33 and Nicholas Muller, 25^th, in 2:08.70. Sophomore Denver Decker placed 31^st in the 400 meters in 52.47.

USF's 4x400-meter relay squad finished 19^th with a team of Bullion, Kraft, Jaimes and Schnaser.