PITTSBURG, KAN. – Senior Emma Hertz of the University of Sioux Falls Track and Field Team earned her fifth All-American honor by placing a career-best third in the shot put at the NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships which wrapped up on Saturday, March 12 at the Robert Plaster Center.

Hertz had a throw of 15.32 meters for 50-3.25 in her final throw in the finals to move into third place and earn USF six team points (tied for 26^th in team standings. For Hertz, it was her third first team All-American honor at the NCAA DII level with five overall. The throw was also a season best for her.

"Emma had a pair of really clutch performances including her final throw of prelims advancing her to the finals. Then, in her final throw of her career indoors - in the finals - she came through big again with a throw that moved her into third place," said USF Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Doug Peterson. "I am very happy for her and her throws Coach (Alissa) Rausch. It was a really great effort," he said.

As Petersen noted, in the shot put competition, Hertz had a throw of 14.61 meters - 47-4 ¼ on her third throw in the prelims, which moved her into ninth place and qualified for the finals. In her final throw of her indoor career, she had a season-best throw of 50-3.25, which is also her second best indoor throw of her career (52-02, Feb. 12, 2021).

Now, a five-time All-American, Hertz has 16 a combined titles in the shot put and weight throw with 37 top-five placements. Hertz is the school record holder in both the weight throw and shot put indoors and the discus, hammer and shot put outdoors for five total school records. And, now, she is the first five-time All-American in the throws.A year ago she had two first-team All-American placements in the weight throw (7th). and shot put (8th).

Hiatt makes first appearance at nationals in men's shot

In his first appearance at the NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships, Tyler Hiatt placed 16^th with a throw of 16.13 meters – 52-11.  He qualified for nationals with a throw of 17.63 meters – 57-10.25 in finishing second at the NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 25. Hiatt helped the USF Men's Team finish ninth in the NSIC Indoor championships with 25.5 points.

"This was a great experience for Tyler," said Peterson. "He had great exposure to a national environment which will only help him as he moves forward. I think he learned a lot today and will benefit from that," he said.

Hiatt has had a strong start of his career since transferring to USF from NDSU. The Sioux Falls native and Lincoln High School standout, has 13 top-six placements in 10 meets, including four titles, with nine combined throws in the shot put and weight throw that rank top 10 all-time at USF.  In terms of indoor shot put throws all-time, Hiatt has six of the top 10 throws including his school record mark of 17.63 meters – 57-10.25 at the NSIC Championships. In the school's top 10 list all-time, he also ranks third at 17.15 meters  56-3.25; fourth, 16.73 meters – 54-10.75 and 5^th, 16.68 meters – 54-09.75 in just his first indoor season at USF.