INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS START FRIDAY

Friday, February 25

Grand Forks, N.D.

TBA

South Dakota State University

Summit League Indoor Championships

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

2/24/2022 4:00:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

SUMMIT LEAGUE INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

When	Friday-Saturday, Feb. 25-26 Friday – 9:30 a.m. Multi-Events \| 3 p.m. Field Events \| 3:30 p.m. Track Events Saturday – 9:30 a.m. Multi-Events \| 11 a.m. Field Events \| 1 p.m. Track Events Full Event Schedule
Location	Frederick "Fritz" D. Pollard Jr. Athletic Center \| Grand Forks, North Dakota
TV	Click Here (multiple channels)
Results	HerosTiming.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 head to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to compete in the Summit League Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday.

Competition in the Frederick D. Pollard Jr. Athletic Center is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. on both days with the multi-events. Field events will start at 3 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Running events will begin at 3:30 pm. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Three SDSU athletes look to defend their 2021 indoor league titles: Thomas Breuckman (mile run, 3,000-meter run), Joseph Minor-Williams (5,000-meter rush) and Rich-Ann Archer (60-meter dash).

LAST TIME OUT: South Dakota State men's and women's track teams found success in multiple events at the SDSU Last Chance Meet as many athletes finished in the top five or won their events during the final meet before the Summit League conference championships.

In the 60-meter dash finals, it was Rich-Ann Archer who claimed the top placing, matching her school record time of 7.45 seconds to take first. Brielle Dixon won the 60-meter hurdle finals, crossing the finish line in 8.69 seconds.

The women's 200-meter dash was led by Cerington Jones, who was crowned champion in 25.50 seconds for a career best.

In the 600-meter run, Claire Beckman led the way, grabbing first in 1 minute, 33.14 seconds for a career best and the sixth-fastest time in school history.

Jessica Christoffer took first place in the 800-meter run, finishing with a personal best time of 2:13.42 that is also the eighth-fastest time on record.

In the field events, Wendy van Nes earned first place in pole vault after clearing a career-best 12 feet, 8.75 seconds. Faith Leiseth won the shot put with a throw of 47-7.25.

Jared Wipf claimed first in the 60-meter dash in 6.92 seconds while Pierre Lear tied his career best in the 60-meter hurdle finals as he took first in 8.14 seconds.

Josh Becker was crowned champion in the 800-meter run, finishing with a career best time of 1:52.96.

Riley Bauer claimed first in the 1,000-meter run in a career-best 2:25.10 for the second-fastest time in school history.

In field competition, Trent Francom won the pole vault with his clearance of 17-5.50. Tristen Hanna claimed first in the triple jump with a distance of 45-3.75. Finally, Tre Manning won the long jump with his career-best jump of 24-4.25 which now sits as the third-farthest mark all-time.

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

Thomas 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 3,000-meter run, claiming first in 8:04.17.

A number of tracksters have also jumped into the top 10 record lists this season, as 49 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 fifth 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 maintaining their spot at No. 19 in the Midwest Region as the SDSU women jumped one spot to 22^ndplace.

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 in December. 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: Should South Dakota State have any national qualifiers, athletes will compete at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 11 and 12.

-GoJacks.com-