Coyotes Close out Indoor Regular Season at Arkansas and SDSU

The University of South Dakota track and field teams wrapped up the indoor regular season with meets at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the SDSU Last Chance meet in Brookings, South Dakota. 

At the Tyson Invitational, Berkeley Engelland ran the second-fastest indoor 800 meters in school history with a time of 2:09.4, placing third in the event. The women’s 4×400 relay team of Averi Schmeichel, Ellie Thomas, Sara Reifenrath, and Engelland posted a time of 3:42.73, the second-fastest in program history. 

Thomas ran a personal best 2:13.39 in the 800 meters. In the field events, Danii Anglin cleared 5-7 in the high jump to tie for fourth place, and Kailee Swart recorded a personal best 13-5 in the pole vault. In the men’s triple jump, Carsen Staehr placed 11th at 47-2 ½. Anna Willis cleared 13-11 in the invitational section of the women’s pole vault​.

At the SDSU Last Chance, Schmeichel set a school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.40, breaking the previous mark of 8.41 set in 2018. The Coyotes secured 11 event titles, including wins in the men’s and women’s high jump, women’s long jump, men’s pole vault, and men’s triple jump. 

Joe Lynch cleared 6-8 to win the men’s high jump, while Anglin won the women’s high jump at 5-8 ¾. Matayah Yellowmule took first in the women’s long jump at 19-2 ¾. Staehr won the men’s triple jump with a mark of 48-6 ¾ and placed second in the long jump at 22-7 ¼. In the men’s pole vault, Eerik Haamer cleared 18-3 ¾ for first place, with Spencer Buley and Tre Young finishing second and third​.

In the sprints, Ethan Baessler and Erin Kinney won the 60 meters with times of 6.75 and 7.31. Jaden Guthmiller ran 6.81 in the prelims, the eighth-fastest time in school history. The Coyotes swept the 800 meters with personal bests from Janzen who posted a time of 1:53.73 and Sydney Stodden with 2:14.76. 

Mariah Fenske and Alexus Sindelar placed first and second in the women’s mile at 4:55.20 and 4:55.37. Abrielle Jirele won the women’s 3,000 meters in 10:04.95. Guthmiller and Nikkel posted season-best times in the 200 meters at 22.07 and 22.13.

Denker recorded a personal best of 49.99 in the 400 meters. In the women’s 400 meters, Caelyn Valandra ran a season-best 57.42, while Calli Davis set a personal best at 57.52​.

South Dakota will compete next at the Summit League Championships, held at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings on Feb. 28 and Mar. 1.