 "Photo: ANNE BROWN, THE VOLANTE, 2010")
 "Photo: ANNE BROWN, THE VOLANTE, 2010")
 "Photo: ANNE BROWN, THE VOLANTE, 2010")
The Coyote men’s and women’s track and field teams continued their strong season this past weekend at the DakotaDome in the John Dalton meet.
The team claimed several of their best times and distances in the relays and other events at the John Dalton Meet.
Several of the track and field members performed their personal bests of the season, which combined into overall scores and improved their standings in the Great West Conference Performance Lists.
“We are really pleased, we have taken some really positive steps,” Head Coach Dave Gottsleben said.
Sophomore Emma Erickson and her teammates, sophomore Natalie Newman, freshman Carol Miller and senior Ramsey Fitzsimmons dominated the 4x800 relay by taking first place with a combined run of 9:15.84 and in the process beat the school record by 25 seconds.
Right afterward they turned around and ran the 4x400 relay right afterwards and claimed the overall title.
“One of the more memorable meets I have had just because one of the meets I could come and just do relays,” Erickson said.
While, Kenna Wolter in the long jump took the overall title with a jump of 18’ 5 ¾ inches, which then allows her to go to a top placing in the GWC for a second event. Kenna also won the overall title in the triple jump with 38’ 5 ½” to help improve her seating in the GWC. With Cody Linder and Chad Pinkelman took first and second in the triple jump, jumping 46’11 ¾ inches and 45’ 8 ½ inches on the men’s side.
Running the 400 meter dash was freshman Alexa Duling, who won the overall title with a time of 58.76 and moved into the third spot on the GWC list. In the 600 meter race freshman Ashley Sveum took first with a time of 1:40.
On the men’s team sophomore Bill Lane won the overall title of the 400 meter too, with a finish at 50.31 seconds.
Not only were the mid-distance runners doing well, but the sprinters in the 60-meter dash; freshman Matt Kerswill, sophomore Jeremy Blount, and freshman Michael Burrus claimed first through third places for their own with close times of 6.95, 6.96 and 7.00.
Following them, women’s sprinter freshman Gabriel Williams won the 60 meter dash for the women’s side with her season-best time of 7.80.
Meanwhile, Duling and sophomore Ashlea Johnson were right behind each other in the 200 meter dash to claim first and second places with their times at 26.33 and 26.43.
However, Duling and Johnson were not the only ones in the 200 meter to make a claim to first and second. Junior Tim Brown and Burrus also took the top places in the 200 meter dash with times of 22.49 and 22.50 respectively.
In the long distance, Miller and freshman Signornie Pfeffenie of the women’s team finished both first and second crossing the finish line in 5:18 and 5:26. With freshman Eric Thien and senior Sean Fitzsimmons finishing only one second ahead of other in the mile, to also take first and second at 4:30 and 4:31.
Junior Sarah Wickman and Ethan Marquadt both claim first place in the 3,000 meter at times of 10:54 and 8:58. Following in the 1,000 meters Rob Gregoire finishedfirst place at 2:37.
To finish up the meet junior Bryan Braley pole vaulted into first place with a leap of 15 feet. Braley was followed by freshman Steve Nelson top throw of the season, 50’ 11 inches to finish third in the men’s weight throw at the track meet and second place in the GWC listings.
Throwing in behind Nelson was sophomore Brock Brewester who threw into sixth place with the distance of 12.61 meters.
“It was a really good meet,” Brewester said. “The throwers were very competitive this last weekend.”
On the women’s side senior Danielle Dornbusch threw in shot put and took first place with teammates freshman Kate Wellensiek and junior Erica Krull respectively coming in behind at third and fourth place.
The Track and Field team will be heading to Iowa Classic this Valentines Day weekend in Ames, Iowa. There will be two more Indoor meets and then comes the Great West Indoor Championship on Feb. 26 and 27.
Reach reporter Missy Berg at Missy.Berg@usd.edu.
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