JACKS START OUTDOOR SEASON IN RALEIGH, EMPORIA

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE TRACK AND FIELD

What/Where/When	Raleigh Relays \| Paul Derr Track and Field Facility \| Raleigh, N.C. Thursday: 10 a.m. (field events); 4:45 p.m. (running events) Friday: 9:30 a.m. (field events); 10 a.m. (running events) Saturday: 9:45 a.m. (field-events); 11:45 a.m. (running events) Emporia State Relays \| Fran Welch Stadium \| Emporia, KS Thursday: 1 p.m. (multi events) Friday: 10 a.m. (multi events); 3 p.m. (field events); 4 p.m. (track events) Saturday: 11:30 a.m. (field events); noon (track events)
TV	ACC Network (Raleigh Relays)
Results	Raleigh Relays \| Emporia State Relays
Meet Notes	See Below \| The Summit League
Social Media	Twitter \| Instagram

The South Dakota State men's and women's track and field teams kick off their outdoor track season with two meets this weekend in Raleigh, NC and Emporia, KS.

Each competition starts on Thursday and runs through Saturday, with the Raleigh Relays starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, 9:30 a.m. Friday and 9:45 Saturday. The Emporia State Relays begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. on Friday and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

60 teams and over 1,100 athletes will compete in Emporia over the weekend while over 150 teams will see action in Raleigh.

SDSU MEN PICKED FIRST, WOMEN THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL: After winning the Summit League indoor title a month ago, the South Dakota State men's track and field team has been tabbed as the favorite during the outdoor season by the slimmest of margins in a vote among the league's coaches.

2022 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL
1. South Dakota State (2) – 32
2. South Dakota (2) – 31
3. North Dakota State (3) – 30
4. Oral Roberts – 18
5. St. Thomas – 13
6. North Dakota – 12
7. Western Illinois – 11
2022 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL
1. South Dakota (6) – 47
2. North Dakota State (2) – 44
3. South Dakota State – 38
4. Oral Roberts – 29
5. North Dakota – 26
6. St. Thomas – 19
7. Western Illinois – 12
8. Omaha – 9
The Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships are set for May 12-14 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Four Jackrabbits — two men and two women — were recognized as Summit League Athletes to Watch.
Trent Francom, South Dakota State
Jr. | Pole Vault | Huron, S.D.

Earned a trip to the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships after placing second in the West Prelims with a mark of 17-10.50 (5.45m)
Finished third at the 2021 Summit League Outdoor Championships with a vault of 18-00.50 (5.50m)
Set a personal-best and school-record mark in the pole vault at the USD Early Bird meet with a mark of 18-04.75 (5.61m)

Ben Olson, South Dakota State
So. | Distance | Coon Rapids, Minn.

Finished third in both the 5000m (14:36.68) and the 10,000m (30:28.44) at the 2021 Summit League Outdoor Championships
Clocked a personal-best time of 14:13.97 to take ninth in the 5000m at the 2021 Joe Walker Invitational
Turned in a fifth-place finish in the 10,000m at the 2021 Drake Relays with a personal-best time of 29:43.87

Leah Hansen, South Dakota State
Fr. | Distance | Willmar, Minn.

Earned a trip to the 2021 NCAA West Prelims in both the 5000m and the 10,000m
Won both the 5000m (16:54.60) and the 10,000m (35:37.00) at the 2021 Summit League Outdoor Championships
Won the 10,000m (34:03.30) at the 2021 Drake Relays

Faith Leiseth, South Dakota State
So. | Throws | Hayti, S.D.

Threw an outdoor personal-best of 47-11 (14.60m) in the shot put at the 2021 South Dakota Challenge, ranking fifth all-time at SDSU
Notched a personal record in the discus of 165-3 (50.37m) at the 2021 South Dakota Tune-Up, ranking fifth all-time in program history
Finished fourth in the discus and 13^th in the shot put at the 2021 Summit League Outdoor Championships

UP NEXT: SDSU will compete in a trio of competitions next weekend, with the USD Open in Vermillion, the Mike Fanelli Distance Classic in San Francisco, CA and the Stanford Invite in Palo Alto, CA.

-GoJacks.com-

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Players Mentioned

Trent Francom

Leah Hisken

Faith Leiseth

Ben Olson

Completed Event: Women's Track and Field at NCAA West First Round on May 28, 2025 , , No Team Score

Completed Event: Women's Track and Field at Summit League Championships on May 15, 2025 , , 4th of 8 -- 132

Completed Event: Women's Track and Field at Cyclone Twilight on May 9, 2025 , , No Team Score

Completed Event: Women's Track and Field at USD Last Chance on May 9, 2025 , , No Team Score

Completed Event: Women's Track and Field at USD Invite on May 3, 2025 , , No Team Score

Completed Event: Women's Track and Field at UC Irvine Invite on May 2, 2025 , , No Team Score

South Dakota State University Athletics