TRACK TEAMS SET FOR FINAL TUNE-UP

Saturday, February 19

Brookings, S.D.

12:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

SDSU Last Chance Meet

Photo by: SDSU Athletics

2/18/2022 8:58:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

SDSU LAST CHANCE MEET

When	12:30 p.m. Saturday \| EVENT SCHEDULE \| HEAT SHEETS
Location	Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex \| Brookings, South Dakota
TV	GoJacks.com/watch (multiple channels)
Results	DakotaTiming.com
Meet Notes	See Below \| The Summit League
Social Media	Twitter \| Instagram

The South Dakota State's men's and women's track and field teams will host the SDSU Last Chance meet on Saturday, serving as the final competition before the Summit League Indoor Championships next weekend.

Augustana, Sioux Falls, Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State will attend the meet as SDSU athletes aim to improve their marks before the conference meet and earn a spot on the championship roster.

There will also be high school competitions in several events throughout the day. Field events are set to start at 12:30 p.m. with the men's and women's long jump, and the track events will start at 1 p.m. with the women's 60-meter hurdle prelims.

LAST TIME OUT: South Dakota State's track teams each clinched first place at the Indoor Classic over the weekend in the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.

The Jackrabbit men finished with 44 points, leading Augustana, which finished in second with 21 points, and MSU-Moorhead which took third with 14 points.

SDSU's women won with 33.70 points, sliding past Iowa Western CC with 33 points in second place. Augustana claimed third with 29.20 points.

Many SDSU athletes claimed first place in their respective events, starting off with Leah Hansen, who dominated the 5,000-meter run in 16:30.74. Her time is also a career best, the second-fastest time in school history and is the fastest time in the Summit League so far this season.

Faith Leiseth earned the title in shot put with a career-best throw of 49-1, which is second best all-time in program history

Reid Pierzinski took control in the 400-meter dash, racing his way to first place in 47.31 seconds. That time is a personal best and the second-fastest time in school history.

SDSU dominated in the mile run, claiming the top four spots. Ben Olson led the way as he claimed first place in 4:06.07, a career best and the sixth fastest time on record.

Dawson Schroeder took the crown in the shot put with his throw of 54-07.25 and Trent Francom took first in the pole vault with his clearance of 17-05.

HIGH PERFORMANCE RANKINGS: Eight SDSU athletes sit atop the Summit League standings in their respective events.

Women's
Rich-Ann Archer (60-meter dash, 7.45 seconds)
Oksana Johnson (800-meter run, 2:10.77)
Cailee Peterson (Mile run, 4:46.15)
Leah Hansen (5000-meter run, 16:30.74)

Men's
Tom Breuckman (Mile run, 4:05.99)
Ben Olson (3000-meter run, 8:04.17)
Joseph Minor-Williams (5000-meter run, 14:17.08)
Josh Donahoe (Hepthalon, 4701 points)

Trent Francom is also nationally ranked, sitting in 11^th place in the pole vault with his season-best clearance of 17-11.00.

SHATTERING RECORDS: Several school records have been broken by SDSU athletes this season.

Rich-Ann Archer broke the school record for the women's 60-meter dash, sprinting to victory in 7.45 seconds. Cailee Peterson raced her way into history, claiming the fastest time in the mile run (4:46.15). Faith Leiseth also etched her name in the record books, breaking the record for indoor discus throw with a distance of 152-07.25.

On the men's side, Ben Olson ran the fastest time on record at SDSU in the 3000-meter run, claiming first in 8:04.17.

A number of tracksters have also jumped into the top 10 record lists this season, as 46 new times have been added or improved this season.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: South Dakota State has had three athletes recognized by the Summit League as Athletes of the Week so far this season. Jared Wipf was honored on Feb. 1, joining Reid Pierzinski (Dec. 7) and Trent Francom (Jan. 25).

REGIONAL RANKINGS: The fourth Division I indoor track and field rankings of the season determined by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association were announced earlier this week with the Jackrabbit men maintain their spot at No. 19 in the Midwest Region. The SDSU women jumped one spot to 23^rdplace.

MEN TIED FOR SECOND, WOMEN THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL: The Jackrabbits were picked in a tie for second place in the men's division and third place on the women's side in the preseason indoor track and field poll announced by Summit League officials Wednesday. North Dakota State is the favorite in both the men's and women's classifications, followed by South Dakota.

Men's Poll
1. North Dakota State - 34 (5)
2. South Dakota - 29 (1)
2. South Dakota State - 29 (1)
4. North Dakota - 19
5. St. Thomas - 14
6. Oral Roberts - 13
7. Western Illinois - 9

Women's Poll
1. North Dakota State - 47 (6)
2. South Dakota - 42 (2)
3. South Dakota State - 38
4. North Dakota - 29
5. St. Thomas - 24
6. Oral Roberts - 23
7. Omaha - 11
8. Western Illinois - 10
Note: First-place votes in parentheses

SDSU returns 13 individual medalists from the championships, including three gold performers. Thomas Breuckman claimed individual gold medals in the mile and 3,000-meter runs, while teammate Joseph Minor-Williams took first in the 5K. Rich-Ann Archer rounded out the top finishes by winning the 60-meter dash title on the women's side.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Four Jackrabbits — two men and two women — have been named to the Summit League Indoor Preseason Athletes to Watch List.

Thomas Breuckman • Jr | Distance | Andover, Minn.

Competed in multiple distance replays during the 2021 indoor season
Claimed double gold medals at the Summit League Indoor Championships (mile run, 3,000 meters)

Trent Francom • Sr. | Pole Vault | Huron

Broke the school pole vault record twice and achieved a new PR of 18-00.50 during the season.
Placed third at the indoor championships
Earned a trip to the NCAA Championships, where he finished 10^th

Leah Hansen • So. | Distance | Willmar, Minn.

Won double silver medals at the league indoor championships in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters
Both times at the championships currently rank second fastest all-time in SDSU history in their respective events

Annie Wendt • So. | Jumps | Rochester, Minn.

Tied personal best in long jump with a leap of 19-02.00 at league championships for the silver medal
Currently sits eighth on the SDSU triple jump record list at 38-03.50

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits will travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota to compete in the Summit League Indoor Championships on Feb. 25 and 26.

-GoJacks.com-