ALLENDALE, MICH. – Three University of Sioux Falls Track and Field throwers are set to compete at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 26-28. The group of senior Emma Hertz, freshman Tyler Hiatt and freshman Kamry Lindsey will complete their outstanding outdoor campaigns this weekend at the national meet. 

The Outdoor Nationals will be held at Grand Valley State Track and Field Stadium in Allendale, Michigan. Live results available by clicking here.

When the NCAA recently released its declared entries and the Cougars' three athletes qualified in six events total. Hertz, a five-time All-American, will compete in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw. Lindsey will throw the discus, and Hiatt will compete in both the shot put and discus. 

"It is a great opportunity for Tyler, Kamry and Emma. It will be fun for them to be able to compete at the DII nationals. We are certainly proud of their performances during this season and it is a great opportunity to be able to compete at nationals," said USF Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Doug Petersen. 

A total of 754 participants, 377 men and 377 women, will compete in the championships. Student-athletes qualified for the championships by reaching a provisional standard established for each event. The championships will be streamed live on NCAA.com. 

Schedule –
Women's Hammer Throw -- 2:30 pm, Thursday, May 26 -- Emma Hertz, ranked 9^th, 58.76m- 192-09
Men's Discus –  1 p.m., Friday, May 27 -- Tyler Hiatt, ranked 9^th, 55.13 meters - 180-10
Women's Discus – 4 pm, Friday, May 27 -- Emma Hertz, ranked 1^st, 54.52m – 178-10; Kamry Lindsey, ranked 13^th, 48.27m - 158-04
Women's Shot Put – 10:15 am, Saturday, May 28 – Emma Hertz, ranked 10^th, 14.70m-48-2.75
Men's Shot Put – 2 pm, Saturday May 28 – Tyler Hiatt, 13^th, 17.95 meters - 58-10.75

Hertz to throw shot, discus, and hammer
Hertz is currently the USF record holder in all five indoor/outdoor throwing events, including the three outdoor events she will compete at the NCAA DII Nationals. In DII, Hertz is ranked in all three events, including a first place ranking in the discus (54.52m, 178'10"), a ninth place ranking in the hammer (58.76m, 192'9"), and a 10th place ranking in the shot put (14.70m, 48'2.75").  She set school records in the discus and hammer this spring at USF.

This spring, Hertz has set school records in the discus, hammer throw, and shot put. Hertz had an All-NSIC honor in the hammer throw at the NSIC Outdoor Championships for her sixth of her career with two NCAA DII provisional marks during the meet, helping lead the USF women's team to a fifth place finish. Earlier this year, Hertz was third in the shot put at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships which gave her a fifth DII All-American honor. During her career, she has accumulated 27 outdoor titles in the three events with 61 top-six finishes. She has earned five outdoor All-NSIC honors. The records that Hertz owns outdoors include the shot put 51-05, 2019; discus, 178-10, 2022; and hammer, 192-09, 2022. In the shot put alone, she has the top 10 throws all-time at USF with a high of 48-2.75 this season. In the discus, she is even better with the top 15 throws all-time and the record of 178-10 this season. She has the top six hammer throws all time with her 2022 record of 192-09 at the time. In fact, she has made eight throws of 175 feet or more in her career.


Hiatt to compete in shot and discus after stellar season
Hiatt, who transferred to USF after beginning his collegiate career at North Dakota State University, will compete in both the shot put and the discus at the outdoor national meet. He is ranked ninth in the discus at 55.13 meters - 180-10 and 13th in the shot put at 17.95 meters - 58-10.75. Both those marks by Hiatt set school records. At the NSIC Championships, he helped lead USF to eighth place in the men's standings with All-NSIC performances in the shot put and discus.  In his first outdoor season, he has accumulated four titles, 12 top-three finishes and 17 top-6 results in either the shot put or discus throws. Hiatt, who qualified for the DII Indoor nationals, makes his first appearance outdoors. In the shot put, he has the top-six throws in school history with five tosses of 55 feet or better. In the discus, he has the top four throws in school history with six of the top-10. He also has made seven throws of 163 feet or better.

Lindsey to throw discus after outstanding NSIC Championship performance 
Lindsey, a true freshman for the Cougars, had a personal-best and earned her first All-NSIC honor with a second place throw of 48.27m - 158-04 in the discus at the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Her throw ranks second on USF's all-time list (second best other than the all-time leader Emma Hertz) and was the NCAA DII provisional she needed to make it to nationals. Lindsey is currently ranked 13th in DII in the discus. This season, Lindsey has six top-five finishes with a title at the Nebraska-Kearney Loper Invite on April 15. The throw at the NSIC championships was just under eight feet better than her previous mark of 45.92m – 150-8 at the Loper Invite.