JACKS HOST JIM EMMERICH ALUMNI MEET

Saturday, January 25

Brookings, S.D.

12:00 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Jim Emmerich Alumni Meet

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

1/24/2025 10:55:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

By: Becca Ball

PRE-NATIONALS HOSTED BY WISCONSIN

When	January 25th Start Time: 12:00 p.m.
Where	Brookings, S.D. \| Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex
Live Results	www.DakotaTiming.com
Social Media	X \| Instagram

BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State welcomes alumni for the first home meet of 2025 on Saturday afternoon.

INFORMATION | SCHEDULE

HEAD COACH ROD DEHAVEN

"The Jim Emmerich Meet is always a highlight of the season. It is a nice-sized meet with great competition and an opportunity to see many of the alumni and their families come back to Brookings. It is also a meet where the vast majority of the team will compete, which will give us a better idea of where we are at as we approach the middle of the season."

THE MEET

Jim Emmerich | Phil LaVallee

The Jim Emmerich Alumni Meet is a special meet for the Jackrabbits. It is named after legendary SDSU coach Jim Emmerich, who served as the head coach of cross country and track and field in the 1950's. Emmerich was a graduate of SDSU, where he was a dual athlete in football and track and field.

In 1946, Emmerich began his career as the head coach of track and field. Under his tutelage, the Jackrabbits won 10 team conference titles in track and field and three runner-up finishes. In 1953, Emmerich's track and field squad won the NAIA title, becoming the first team in SDSU history to capture a national championship.

In 1947, Emmerich started the cross country team at SDSU. The team was very successful as the Jacks never lost a conference title. After his success with the track team in 1953, Emmerich went on to coach his cross country team to an NAIA championship in 1956 and later captured the NCAA College Division cross-country Championship in 1959.

In honor of Coach Emmerich, the Alumni meet will host a couple of events for former Jackrabbits to participate in. One such event is the Phil LaVallee Alumni Mile, which honors the former SDSU student-athlete who was taken too soon.

"The Phil LaVallee Alumni mile will take place at 1:25 pm," said Head Coach Rod Dehaven. "The races honor the memory of Phil who was killed while on a training run in 2013. Approximately 20 alums will toe the line to relive their time as a Jackrabbit."

ATHLETES TO WATCH

Carson Noecker is back in action after a trip to the NCAA Championship Cross Country meet this past fall. Last season, Noecker finished runner-up in the 5000-meter race with a time of 14:16.83 at the Indoor Summit League Championships. Noecker will be competing in the 3000m this meet. Last year, Noecker finished sixth at the Conference Championships with a time of 8:22.65.

Cody Larson will also be making his first appearance this season in the 3000-meter race. Last season, Larson finished runner-up at the Conference Championship meet with a time of 8:20.13, crossing the line less than three seconds after the first-place finisher.

James Pierce is back in action after a stellar run at the SDSU Holiday Open. Pierce broke the school's program record in the 300-meter race with a new PR of 33.65. Last season, Pierce finished sixth in the 400-meter race at the Conference Championship Meet with a time of 49.78. Later, he managed to win the 400 at the Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a personal record of 47.12.

Jaiden Boomsma continues to show up and show out in the long jump. Boomsma won the event at the USD Invite with a mark of 5.77 meters, besting the second-place finisher by nearly half a meter. The senior has collected two wins in long jump so far this season and finished runner-up at the Dakota Alumni Classic.

Lindsey Rotz has seen an excellent performance in her first year as a Jackrabbit. The freshman won the women's mile last weekend with a time of 5:08.84. Rotz also won the 800-meter race in her collegiate debut with a time of 2:14.29 at the SDSU Holiday Classic.

Brielle Dixon will be back in action this weekend in the 60-meter race and the 60-meter hurdles. Dixon was last seen at the Holiday Open, where she finished first in the 60-hurdles. Last year, Dixon placed second in the conference with a 60-hurdles time of 7.55. Later in the outdoor season, Dixon earned a spot at the NCAA West First Round and finished 36th in the 100-meter hurdles.

LAST TIME OUT

Last time out, the Jackrabbits captured four first-place finishes at the USD Invite. On the men's side, Sam Castle won the 400 meters with a time of 49.78. Cade Sanvik won the mile with a new personal record of 4:18.43.

On the women's side, Boomsma won the long jump with a 5.77-meter leap, besting the runner-up finisher by nearly half a meter. Rotz continues to impress as she secured a first-place finish for the women in the mile. The freshman clocked a 5:08.84 mark in her first collegiate mile race.

For top-three finishes, Pierre Lear was third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.04 seconds. Lucas Flemmer was third in the 200 with a time of 22.57. Jared Lutmer (8:45.34) and Luke Johnson (8:49.88) were second and third, respectively, in the 3000 meters. Hudson Schroeder finished runner-up in the long jump (6.83 meters), and Brett Fraker jumped 13.33 meters to place third in the triple jump.

Top-three finishes for the women included Madison Kizer, who was runner-up in the high jump with a 1.70-meter jump, and Maggie Madsen with a third-place finish in the 60 meters with a personal-best 7.84 time.

-GoJacks.com-