South Dakota Track and Field Shines at Summit League Indoor Championships

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of South Dakota track and field team delivered a strong performance on the opening day of the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships, setting two meet records, breaking a school record, and claiming four event titles. Alexus Sindelar was likewise recognized for her academic achievements.

Top Performances

• Alexus Sindelar Named Scholar of the Championship: Sindelar received the Women’s Indoor Track and Field Scholar of the Championship award for her academic excellence.
• Rylie Hansen Sets Personal Best in Long Jump: Rylie Hansen won the women’s long jump with a personal best leap of 19-11 (6.07m), placing her third in USD indoor history in the event.
• Ellie Thomas Breaks Meet Record in 800m: Ellie Thomas ran a meet record time of 2:07.93 in the 800-meter prelims, moving into second place in USD indoor history.
• Multiple Qualifiers for 800m Finals: Six Coyotes advanced to the women’s and men’s 800-meter finals. For the women, Thomas (2:07.93), Calia Chaney (2:09.03), and Berkeley Engelland (2:11.17) qualified. On the men’s side, Andrew Atwood (1:51.84), Mason Sindelar (1:51.98), and Tommy Hensley (1:52.66) advanced.
• Men’s DMR Team Sets Meet Record: The men’s distance medley relay team of Tommy Hensley, Braxton Smith, Andrew Atwood, and Natnael Kifle set a meet record with a time of 9:53.49.
• Women’s DMR Team Breaks School Record: The women’s distance medley relay team of Jade Ecoffey, Claudia Werner, Berkeley Engelland, and Alexus Sindelar broke the school record with a time of 11:32.90, finishing second at the meet.
• Delaney Smith Wins Weight Throw: Delaney Smith won the women’s weight throw with a toss of 65-4 ¾ (19.93m).
• Harland and Curtis Tie for Pole Vault Title: Caelan Harland and Dylan Curtis tied for first place in the men’s pole vault, both clearing 17-3 ½ (5.27m). Curtis’s performance is a personal record and moves him to ninth in USD indoor history.
• Bre Dunn Achieves Personal Best in Pentathlon: Bre Dunn’s personal best of 3573 points placed her fifth in the pentathlon.

Team Standings (After Day One)

Men’s

1. North Dakota State: 61 points
2. South Dakota State: 47 points
3. South Dakota: 43 points
4. North Dakota: 16 points
5. Oral Roberts: 14 points
6. St. Thomas: 8 points
7. Kansas City: 3 points

Women’s

1. North Dakota: 58 points
2. North Dakota State: 36 points
3. South Dakota: 35 points
4. St. Thomas: 31 points
5. South Dakota State: 25 points
6. Kansas City: 4 points
7. Omaha: 3 points
8. Oral Roberts: 2 points

Key Takeaways

• South Dakota secured four gold medals on the first day of competition.
• USD athletes qualified for 14 finals on Saturday.
• The Coyotes demonstrated strength in both relay events, setting a meet record in the men’s DMR and a school record in the women’s DMR.

Up Next

South Dakota will conclude its participation in the Summit League Indoor Championships on Saturday in Grand Forks, with the heptathlon resuming at 9:30 a.m. And the remaining individual events starting at 11:30 a.m.