SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After multiple school record performances at the South Dakota Challenge, the University of Sioux Falls Track and Field Teams are looking to use their momentum to propel them into a strong showing at three different meets this week.

The Cougars will send various team members to the Drake Relays on Wednesday, April 27 - Saturday, April 30 in Des Moines, Iowa, the Kip Janvrin Open on Friday, April 29 in Indianola, Iowa, and the Drake Alternative in St. Peter, Minn. on Saturday, April 30. 

Follow USF Track and Field at USF_Athletics on Twitter, usf_tfxc on Instagram, and University of Sioux Falls Track and Field/Cross Country on Facebook. 

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Drake Relays
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Kip Janvrin Open
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Drake Alternative
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Quick Season Breakdown 
The Cougars kicked off their outdoor campaign at the Wildcat Outdoor Classic in Wayne, Neb. While there, USF tallied eight first-place finishes for the women and two first-place finishes for the men. Tyler Hiatt had an NCAA provisional mark in the shot put, while Emma Hertz had NCAA DII provisional marks in both the discus and hammer throw. In total, USF had 10 titles, 29 top-five finishes, and several top-10 marks at the first outdoor meet of the season.

On Friday, April 2, the Cougars competed at the USD Early Bird Meet in Vermillion, S.D. USF finished the day with seven top-ten finishes on the women's side and five top-ten finishes on the men's side. Tyler Hiatt had an NCAA provisional mark in the shot put and set USF 's outdoor mark in the shot put, while Emma Hertz had NCAA DII provisional marks in both the discus and hammer throw.

On April 8-9, USF competed at the Minnesota State Open & Multi, where they racked up multiple PR's, school top-10 bests, and new school records. The Cougars finished with 25 top-ten finishes on the women's side and 18 top-ten finishes on the men's side. As a result, USF Women's Team finished fourth in the team standings with 87.5 points while the Men's Team was also fourth in the team race with 72 points.

April 13-15 was a busy few days for the Cougars, with the teams splitting three meets over the three days. At the Red Raider Open, USF recorded seven personal-bests, three top-ten program marks, won a relay title, and had 11 top-eight finishes. At the Loper Invitational and the UW-Platteville Invitational, USF had a school record by Khot Juac in the 5,000-meters, three titles, two NCAA DII provisional marks, 11 program top-10 marks and numerous placements in the top eight. 

April 21-23 the Cougars competed at the South Dakota Challenge in Vermillion, S.D. Over the span of three days, the Cougars had four NCAA DII provisional marks, five records (four school records), and numerous top-10 program marks. Sophomore Emily Swanson also competed at and won the Dewey Donat heptathlon at Northern State after scoring a mark of 4,571, which is an NCAA DII provisional mark and the second best total in school history.

Before the outdoor season began, the Cougars were projected to finish seventh (women) and ninth (men), respectively, in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Outdoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches Poll released Friday, March 18. 

USF Women's Season Recap --
Whipps named NSIC Outdoor Athlete of the Week for the first time
Wildcat Outdoor Classic - For the first time in her career, junior Kayleigh Whipps was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week. At the Wildcat Outdoor Invite in Wayne, Neb., Whipps, a junior from Eau Claire, Wisc., had an impressive day for USF, including winning the 3000 meter steeplechase with a clocking of 12:07.59. The mark by Whipps ranks seventh-best outdoors in USF school history and is her first-career outdoor title at USF. In addition to the title and top-10 mark, she ran to a second-place finish in the 400 meter hurdles (1:24.60) in her first attempt at that event.

Senior Emma Hertz had NCAA DII provisional marks in both the discus and the hammer throw at the Wildcat Classic. She won the discus with a throw of 48.40 m (158-09), which would rank second all-time at USF outdoors but her mark of 175-10.25 a year ago is the school record. Hertz also took second place in shot put, with a throw of 13.98 m (45-10.50), and sixth in the hammer throw, with a toss of 53.82 m (176-07), which is an NCAA DII provisional mark. 

Sophomore Cassidy O'Meara brought home two first-place finishes for the Cougars, including a 2:23.98 clocking in the 800 meter run and a 4:16.11 time as a member of the winning 4x400 meter relay team. Other team members included Anika Aho (soph.), Gracie Bucher (fresh.), and Khot Juac (soph.). In the 1500 meter run, Juac took first place with a clocking of 4:54.67 which ranks 10th all-time and is her second best of her career. Sophomore Karlee Simmons won the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:18.69. In the field events, sophomore Kenna Comstock won the pole vault with a height of 3.30 m (10-10.00).

USD Early Bird Meet - Senior Emma Hertz had two more NCAA DII provisional marks in both the discus and the hammer throw. She placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 47.10 m (154-06 1/2), which would rank third all-time at USF outdoors but her mark of 175-10.25 a year ago is the school record. Hertz also took sixth place in the hammer throw, with a throw of 55.79m (183-00 1/2), which is an NCAA DII provisional mark and the second-best throw at USF, just short of her own school record.

On the track, KaNya Henderson brought home a second place finish for the Cougars in the 100 M dash, running a 12.19 -- not a personal best for Henderson but it is fifth all-time at USF. In the 1500 M run, freshman Morgan Gehl took 10th place for USF, running a 4:47.08 which is seventh all-time at USF. In the 100 M hurdles, Swanson ran a 15.28 for 20th place and seventh all-time at USF.  Tianna Voigt ran a 12:12.12 to place 14th in the 3000 m steeplechase, which is ninth all-time at USF. 

Emma Hertz receives NSIC Field Athlete of the Week honors for the fifth time
MN State Open & Multi -  Emma Hertz, who won two titles, set two school record and had three NCAA DII provisional marks at the Minnesota State Open and Multi on April 8-9 in Mankato, Minn., has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Field Athlete of the Week. Hertz has earned the NSIC Field Athlete of the Week award five times in her career.

A five-time All-American, Hertz had a big meet for the Cougars on Friday and Saturday. With a throw of 54.52 meters – 178-10 in the discus on Friday, April 8, Hertz recorded the best throw in NCAA DII in the discus throw. Her throw, which set meet and facility records, is nearly two feet better than Zada Swoopes of West Texas A&M at 176-11 (March 19). She still ranks No. 1 in DII in the discus and is seventh in the hammer throw and 19th in the shot put.

Also on the field for the Cougars, Kamry Lindsey finished in fourth in the discus with a throw of 44.86m (147-02), which is fifth all-time but not her PR. MacKenzie Bengston placed fifth (44.12m, 144-09) for seventh all-time. Kenna Comstock took second in the pole vault at 3.27m - 10-8.75, while Emily Swanson took fourth place in the high jump at 1.64m - 5-04.5, which ranks third all-time outdoors and her outdoor PR. 

On the track, the Cougars had a great group of performances, including a first place finish in the 4x100 m relay, with a team of KaNya Henderson, Emma Kenkel, Myah Roggenbuck, and Natalie Meyers (48.52). The team's time is also seventh best in USF history. Khot Juac finished 8th in the 800 M run (2:20.20) and 9th in the 1500 M Run (4:42.34 - 5th all-time at USF). Morgan Gehl finished in 10th place with a sixth all-time best time at USF of 4:43.47. In the 4x400 M relay, the Cougars had a third place finish with a group of Emily Swanson, Holly Mayers, Tianna Voigt, and Emma Kenkel (4:05.30). In the 3000 m steeplechase, Kayleigh Whipps ran a personal-best 11:48.87 for seventh place (bettered her previous mark by nearly 20 seconds) and fourth all-time at USF. Karlee Simmons' eighth place finish of 11:57.00 is fifth all-time at USF, while Tianna Voigt placed ninth with a sixth all-time best time at USF of 11:57.77. 

Red Raider Open -- The Cougars picked up a title in the 4x800-meter relay with a time that finished just out of USF's top-10 all-time. The team of Cassidy O'Meara, and freshman Gracie Bucher, Jessica Lutmer and Marcella Sierra covered the distance in 9:48.30. 

In the women's hammer throw, USF had a pair of personal-best as three placed in the top eight. Leading the way was junior Mackenzie Bengtson, who was second at 46.28m – 151-10. Her throw was less than a foot from the top-10 all-time at USF. Senior Ally Welch placed fifth with a personal best of 42.72m – 140-02. 

In winning the heptathlon, Swanson recorded the second-best outdoor heptathlon mark in USF school history as she totaled 4,497 points. She bettered her own mark of 4,244 a year ago. She ranks second behind Katlyn Sawtelle, who set a school-record mark of 5,176 in 2015. In the competition, Swanson won all seven of the contested heptathlon events. She had two personal-bests in the four events contested on Wednesday, including winning the 100-meter hurdles in 14.93, a personal-best, and 851 points. In the high jump, Swanson totaled 1.58m – 5-02.5 for 712 points and she won the shot put in the multi-event competition at 10.06m-33-00.25 for 533 points. Swanson had a PR in the 200-meter dash by going 27.03 for 709 points. On Thursday, she scored 703 points in the 800-meters with a clocking of 2:29.16. She had a throw of 29.63 – 97-02 for 470 points in winning the javelin. And, she long jumped 4.85 meters – 15-11 for 519 points and a total of 4,497.

Webb also had a solid day in tough conditions for the Cougars. She finished first with an outdoor personal-best in the high jump at 1.59 meters – 5-02.75 which ranks fifth all-time outdoors in school history. She bettered her previous mark of 5-01 earlier this year, a mark that ranked 10^th all-time. Also for USF, freshman Kayla Van Osdel recorded her collegiate outdoor best mark of 12.40m – 40-08 in finishing third in the shot put.

UW-Platteville Invitational -- The performances in the 5,000 m run included a school record by Khot Juac of 17:20.86 (7th place), which broke the 41-year old outdoor school record of Cindy Sostrum in 1981 when the USF Athletics Hall of Fame member had a 17:36.70. Sophomore Karlee Simmons had a personal-best and sixth-best program mark of 18.10.69 (23rd place) as she bettered her previous mark by nearly 20 seconds. Junior Tianna Voigt finished at 18:31.92 (31st place) and her time ranks ninth all-time at USF. Junior Kayleigh Whipps was at 18:36.55 (32nd place) for 10^th all-time at USF. 

Loper Invitational -- Emma Hertz won the shot put at the Loper Invite with an NCAA DII provisional mark and a season outdoor best of 14.05m – 46-1.25. Freshman Kamry Lindsey established a personal-best in winning the discus throw at 45.92m – 150-8, a mark that ranks fourth all-time at USF. She was also 16^th in the shot put at 12.09m – 39-8 and 31^st in the hammer throw at 40.27m – 131-1. Mackenzie Bengston had a big throw in the hammer of 47.08m – 154-5 which was a personal-best and seventh all-time. She was 10^th in the discus at 39.53m -129-8.

South Dakota Challenge
Morgan Gehl brought home a first place finish in the 1500 meter run with a time of 4:41.27. She had a top-10 program mark (5th) and broke her personal-best by over two seconds. In fourth place was Khot Juac, with a time of 4:46.11, while Jessica Lutmer was right behind in 5th place in 4:46.16. It was a PR by over four seconds by Lutmer. Hertz broke her own school record in the hammer throw and had a NCAA DII provisional mark at 58.76 meters -192-09.5 in finishing third. Her throw ranks sixth in DII. Henderson also broke her own school record in the 200-meters with a clocking of 24.66 (24.94, May 1, 2021). She finished third behind two DI sprinters. Olivia Baumberger threw a 33.02m (108-04) in the javelin for an 11th place finish. McKenna Comstock also had a PR in the pole vault, finishing in tenth at 3.42m (11-02.50). The 4x100 meter relay team came out on top, finishing in first place with a time of 48.78. Team members included KaNya Henderson, Emma Kenkel, Myah Roggenbuck, and Natalie Meyers. Henderson also took home a third place finish in the 100 meter dash at 11.64, breaking her own school record yet again. On the field, the Cougars had a third place finish from Emma Hertz in the shot put, with a throw of 14.70m (48-02 3/4). Hertz also threw a 47.34m (155-03 3/4) for a ninth place finish in the discus. In the long jump, Natalie Meyers took a 14th place finish, with a jump of 5.37m (17-07 1/2), while Avery Bartunek placed 13th in the triple jump (10.51m, 34-05 3/4). 

Swanson wins heptathlon with DII provisonal mark at Dewey Donat - NSU
Sophomore Emily Swanson continued her outstanding work in the multi-events and won the Dewey Donat heptathlon at Northern State after scoring a mark of 4,571, which is an NCAA DII provisional mark and the second best total in school history.. Yesterday, after four events, she led the competition with 2,833 points. Swanson was first in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.95, which was just short of her PR of 14.93, for 848 points. She had a high jump of 1.55 meters – 5-01 for 678 points as she was second in that competition. In the shot put, she had a throw of 9.99 meters – 32-09.5 for 529 points. In the 200 meters, she clocked a personal-best of 26.22 for 778 points. Today, Swanson had a 5.16m (16-11 1/4) jump in the long jump for 603 points, a 28.50m (93-06) throw in the javelin for 448 points, and ran a 2:30.47 in the 800 meter run for 687 points. In her first place finish, Swanson bettered her previous PR that was also second all-time at USF, and her final score was an NCAA DII provisional mark. 

USF Men's Season Recap --
Wildcat Outdoor Classic - In his first outdoor competition at USF, sophomore Tyler Hiatt had a big day for the Cougars. He placed second with an NCAA provisional mark in the shot put (16.75 m 54-11.50). The throw of 54-11.50 ranks second all-time at USF outdoors. He also took fifth-place finish in the discus (48.64 m 159-07). The discus throw by Hiatt ranks tied for fifth all-time outdoors at USF.

Junior David Ecker had a successful day for the Cougars, including a first-place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase (9:40.24) and a third-place finish in the 400 meter hurdles (9:40.24). In the 5000 meter run, USF took places 3-5, with Micade Shumway in third (15:30.58), Christian Lietz in fourth (16:29.13), and Justin Steffensmeier in fifth (16:35.68). 

In the field events, senior Jake Person brought home a first-place finish for the Cougars in the pole vault with a height of 4.37 meters - 14-04. Freshman Samuel Olson came in second behind Person, with a height of 3.80 m (12-05.50), and freshman Nicholas Cole came in third at 3.20 m (10-06.00). 

USD Early Bird Meet - Sophomore Tyler Hiatt had a strong day for the Cougars. He placed third with an NCAA provisional mark in the shot put, with a throw of 16.95 m (55-07.50), which is a new outdoor school record at USF. A sophomore from Sioux Falls, SD, Hiatt continued his strong start to the outdoor season by breaking the eight-year old record of Jordon Bents of 55-04.25.

On the track, junior David Ecker finished third in the 3000 m steeplechase, with a third all-time at USF time of 9:20.32 although short of his own school record. Aaron Voigt finished in fifth with a time of 9:34.79, which is sixth all-time at USF and just off his best all-time. Ben Mandel finished eighth in the 110 m hurdles, with a time of 14.90, which is sixth all-time at USF and Mandel's PR.

MN State Open & Multi - For the second straight week, Tyler Hiatt set a school record, with a first-place discus throw of 51.05m of 167-06. The throw broke the mark of Evan Colfack in 2013 (166-08) and was a NCAA DII provisional mark. Hiatt also broke the school record in the shot put, with a throw of 17.40m- 57-1, which was also a meet record. 

Also on the field for the Cougars, Jaymeson Wolkow threw 49.64m (162-10) for a fifth place finish in the hammer throw. Wolkow also finished 14th in the shot put (13.22m, 43-04.50) and sixth in the discus (45.21m, 148-04). Samuel Olson finished in seventh place in the pole vault (3.88m, 12-08.75), while Denver Decker placed eighth in the javelin with a throw of 41.39m. 

On the track, the Cougars had an outstanding handful of performances, including a second place finish in the 10,000 m run from Micade Shumway (31:33.57 - 5th all-time at USF) and a third place finish from Christian Lietz (33:29.24). In the 3000 m steeplechase, Aaron Voigt brought home a third place finish for the Coo with a time of 9:27.78 (3rd all-time at USF). Joseph Donahue took second in the 100 m dash (10.92 - 5th all-time at USF) and seventh in the 200 m dash (23.24). 

Red Raider Open -- In the hammer throw, USF placed four in the top seven and five among the top 11 with three throws among the top-10 all-time at USF. Senior Patrick Hagan finished second with a throw of 48.14m – 157-11.25. Hagan's throw ranks top-five all-time but is a little short of his PR of 166-6.50 in 2019.  Junior Jaymeson Wolkow was fourth at 45.96m-150-09.5 as he had a personal-best (142'8, 2022). His throw ranks eighth all-time. In sixth place was sophomore Tyler Hiatt, who had a personal-best of 43.03m – 141-02.25  for 10^th all-time. Sophomore Marek Rex was seventh at 43.02m – 141-01.77 with an outdoor PR and his throw was just short of the top-10 all-time. In addition, sophomore Dawson Davito who was 11^th at 36.51m – 119.09.50. Freshman Denver Decker placed sixth in the javelin throw at 39.35m – 129-01.25. In the men's pole vault, senior Jake Person was sixth at 4.10m - 13-05 while freshman Samuel Olson tied for seventh at 3.95m - 12-11.50 and freshman Nicholas Cole was 12th at 3.50m - 11-05.75. 

UW Platteville Invitational -- In the men's race David Ecker nearly had a school record by running the second best 5,000-meter by a men's runner in school history. In finishing 11th at the meet, he had a time of 14:27.24 (Bobby Brockmueller, 14:25.87, 2015). Aaron Voigt had a 14:50.50 which ranks eighth-all-time at USF as he was 21st at the meet. (unofficial results).

Loper Invitational -- Hiatt had an NCAA DII provisional mark and won the shot put with a throw of 17.22m-56-6, which is his second best all-time and also the program's second best throw. He also finished third in the discus at 48.17m – 158-0 which is also a top-10 program mark, although just off his best effort. Hiatt was 26^th in the hammer throw of 44.90 – 147-4 for his personal-best in th event. Junior Jaymeson Wolkow was third in the shot put with a throw of 14.57m - 47-09.75. He also also eighth in the discus at 44.40 m – 145-8. Sophomore Marek Rex finished 10^th in the javelin with a personal-best of 40.85m – 134-0.

Also for USF Men's Team, senior Patrick Hagan was 10th in the shot put at 14.28 m – 46-0 and he was 14^th in the discus at 41.45m – 136-0.  Sophomore Dawson Davito had a seventh place finish in the shot put at 14.44m – 47-4.5 and was 40^th in the hammer at 36.11m – 118-6.  Junior Carson Hausmann was 20^th in the discus at 36.99m – 121-4 and 39^th in the hammer at 36.33m – 119-2.

South Dakota Challenge - Ecker breaks own school record in 3K steeplechase
David Ecker placed second in the 3000 meter steeplechase, with a time of 9:13.13, breaking his own school record by over three seconds and meeting an NCAA DII Provisional mark. Jakob Hanna took fifth place in the 1500 meter run (4:01.32), with Caleb Rivera in eighth (4:03.27), which was a PR by .07 and Micade Shumway in ninth place with a personal-best of 4:04.85, which bettered his previous best by five seconds. In the 400 meter hurdles, Landon Wenderski finished in 14th place with a time of 58.81, which was his personal-best. Marek Rex had a throw of 39.93m (131-00) for a 15th place finish in the javelin and 42.05m (137-11 1/2) for a 34th place finish in the hammer throw. Also in the hammer throw, Jaymeson Wolkow placed 19th (48.99m, 160-08 ¾) while Patrick Hagan finished in 20th (48.95m, 160-07 ¼). On the track for the men's team, Ben Mandel finished in third in the 110 meter hurdles (14.36), which set a DII USF record, while Joseph Donahue finished in tenth in the 100 meter dash (10.71). Tyler Hiatt finished in fifth placed in the discus with a school record breaking throw of 52.22m (171-04). He had a DII provisional mark as he bettered his record of one week ago. Jaymeson Wolkow threw the round instrument 45.08m (147-11) for a 17th place finish. Hiatt also finished sixth in the shot put (16.75m, 51-11 1/2), while Wolkow placed 15th at 14.40m (47-03). Isiah Dancy brought home a sixth place finish in the triple jump with a jump of 13.57m (44-06 1/4), as well as a 15th place finish in the long jump (6.30m, 20-08). 

Looking Ahead
The Cougars' outdoor regular season wraps up next week at the Maverick Open on Wednesday, May 4 and Friday, May 6 in Mankato, Minn. and the USD Twilight Meet on Friday, May 6 in Vermillion, S.D. 

After that, the Cougars head to the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Aberdeen, S.D. May 12-14.