 "Photo: ANNIE BROWN, THE VOLANTE, 2010")
 "Photo: ANNIE BROWN, THE VOLANTE, 2010")
For the second year in a row, the DakotaDome proved the critical edge for the men’s and women’s track and field teams at USD, as they not only hosted the Great West Indoor Track and Field championships, they ruled them.
The Coyote women (230.5 points) matched high expectations when they came out over Utah Valley, which notched 195 points. The men also won on their side of the event, beating the favored Utah Valley team 187-168.
Despite having the lead going into the final event, head coach Dave Gottsleben said it was a very challenging weekend for the men’s team.
“At least on the men’s side, it was an extremely competitive meet,” Gottsleben said. “There were a couple events where we did very well and better than what we had expected.”
The win for the men came against the predictions.
“We were predicted to lose by 10 points, so I’d say we performed pretty well to get the victory,” junior Jeff Sebern said.
It was an explosive weekend for the Coyote teams, as many athletes both on the track and in the field saw personal bests, broke school records, and exceeded their conference rankings.
Senior Ramsey Fitzsimmons posted a dominant 36.5 team points. Friday she won the 3,000 meters, anchored the distance medley relay, and then on Saturday followed-up with three top-three performances: a 4:57 mile, second place in the 800 meter, and third in the 5,000 meter, which she finished in 17.46 seconds.
“I think the whole team performed very well,” Fitzsimmons said. “It’s a bit of a target on your back going into it with such high expectations. Everyone expected us to run well but we did what we set out to do.”
Nor were the successes solely on the track as the high quality performances were acknowledged by other top honors. Women’s head coach Lucky Huber was named the Women’s Coach of the Year, Gottsleben was named Men’s Coach of the Year, senior Rob Gregoire Men’s Athlete of the Year and senior Ramsey Fitzsimmons was named Women’s Athlete of the Year for the second time in a row.
Gregoire had an equally impressive showing for the men’s team, running in four events and earning 23 team points. He won the 3,000 meter Friday, following that up with three top-five finishes Saturday.
However, the fourth place finish in the 5,000 meter was a personal best for Gregoire, and was completed in 15:17. He then placed fifth both in the 800 meter (1:58) and the mile run with a 4:20 time.
“It was really exciting,” Gregoire said. “We weren’t supposed to win it but we ended up winning so it was pretty cool. I did pretty well in the 3K but was somewhat disappointed in the mile.”
The Dome is widely regarded as one of the top venues for indoor track and field in the country, Gottsleben said, and this is its second year as host of the GWC championships.
“As far as an indoor track and field environment, it’s probably one of the top ten in the country,” Gottsleben said. “Video screens, fast track, replays, instant results – it is a phenomenal spot.”
That translated into results for more than just the top two athletes from each time. Junior Kenna Wolter broke the USD school record, previously held by two time national champion Elena Swan, with a jump of 40-8 ¾ in the women’s triple jump.
“That doesn’t happen too often,” Wolter said. “It was the training and then my teammates pushed me to do well. Everybody really came together.”
Sebern reached a personal best with his 6-6 ¾ win in the high jump, and his teammates were on his heels, with sophomore Chad Pinkelman at second with the same height but more misses, and senior Beau Hoodjer third at 6-4 ¾. Sebern also came in third at the triple jump with a leap of 45-1 ¾, behind teammates sophomore Cody Linder and Pinkleman.
“We were seeded fourth, fifth, and sixth but ended up getting first, second and third, so that was pretty key,” Sebern said. “I think the jumps were a big part of our success but it wasn’t just the jumps. Everybody seemed like they did something to help the effort.”
Gottsleben said being at the Dome made a difference for the athletes, not only through the quality and familiarity with the stadium but also in letting them be at home during the event.
“All of our athletes are proud of this venue and I think we might compete a little bit better when we are here, maybe even a little bit over our head,” Gottsleben said.
Huber said the meet went great for their team and that the women competed well against the other GWC teams.
“We had some groups that really stepped up and competed well,” Huber said. “A lot of our kids went to another level and moved up higher than they were ranked, which is good. So not only did they perform well, but they outperformed the other kids and that’s what helped us win the conference meet.”
Huber said the personal records being broken reflected upon the training methods the team uses.
“Part of the training is to be able to come into these big championships and that is really how we design our training. The indoor track meet is one of our big events and that’s when you want to able to do your best,” Huber said.
With the conclusion of the Indoor Track and Field season, the team is now looking toward the outdoor half of the season, Huber said. In the outdoor season, additional athletes can be added to the roster and new field events will be included, such as the hammer throw and 400-meter hurdles.
Then, May 13 to 15, USD will host the GWC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“I want to do the same in the outdoor season and repeat it again in May,” Fitzsimmons said.
Reach reporter Sarah Paulus at Sarah.Paulus@usd.edu.
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