By Brad Blume, Sports Information Director
SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's and women's indoor track teams got a jump on the season this past weekend competing at the Black Hills State Indoor Invitational in Spearfish, S.D. The Hardrockers started the season strong earning two new school records and establishing 15 personal-best marks during the meet.
"We usually don't expect a lot out of that meet other than to see where our kids are in their training efforts," said Hardrocker head track and field coach Jerry Schafer. "There are usually some mixed results but we had some pretty decent results - especially out of our top athletes."
SD Mines junior Lillian Temple set a new Hardrocker school record Friday during the women's heptathlon scoring 3,042 over the five events (high hurdles: 10.53 second; high jump: 5-feet-4.5-inches; shot put: 28-1.75; long jump: 16-7.5; 800-meter run: 2:35.16) . The old record was held by Anne Larson, who set the mark in 2003 with 2684 points.
The Glendive, Mont., earned second overall while recording two personal best (high hurdles and shot put) an also achieved an indoor personal best in the high jump. Temple also competed in the triple jump on Saturday and took second place with a leap of 35-2.5.
Lady Hardrocker junior Haley Dunn set a new SD Mines school record in the women's weight throw with a new distance of 44-4. The old mark was held by sophomore Mackenzie Butcher, who owned the record from a year ago after a throw of 43-5.25. Dunn's mark earned her fourth place in Saturday's meet.
SD Mines junior Anna Haneline is off to a strong start as she earned two event titles Saturday. She placed first in the women's 400 dash (59.60) for a personal best as well as the second fastest time in Lady Hardrocker history and then topped the field in the women's long jump (16-11.5) which was also a personal-best mark.
"Anna had a phenomenal day," Schafer said. "We are looking forward to what Anna can get done this season."
The other event winner was junior Seth Brotherton, who won the men's triple jump after a leap of 43-6. Brotherton also earned fourth place in the men's 60 high hurdles clocking a time of 9.23. During the preliminary race, Brotherton set a new indoor personal-best mark with a time of 9.13.
Other top performers at the BHSU Early Bird Meet include: senior Brian Freed took second in the men's weight throw (54-11.5) and fifth in men's shot put (46-8.25); junior Tyler Nack grabbed fourth place in the men's mile run and set an indoor personal best (4:34.44) and also had an all-time personal best in the 3-kilometer race with his time of 9:16.87; Robert Frick was fifth in the men's mile and set a new indoor personal-best mark (4:44.72); senior Alexis Godeke had her best season-opening race, competing in the women's 800 where she took second in a time of 2:31.67; sophomore Cole Jolovich had a new indoor personal best during the men's 3k (9:47.03); sophomore Charles Biberg had an indoor personal best in the men's 3k (10:04.73); sophomore Taylor Heaps earned third place in the men's 800 (2:03.13) and freshman Josh Clemens was a spot back in fourth place (2:03.14); junior Garrett Shaal took third in the men's 400 (51.54); the men's 4x400 relay team (Clemens, Heaps, Brotherton, Shaal) earned second place in a time of 3:30.86; sophomore Cori Christensen had a personal best in the women's weight throw (40-1.25) competing unattached, pole vaulter Kolten Jelden cleared a height of 14-11 for second place and Sam Hill, also competing unattached, was fourth in the pole vault recording a height of 14-5.25.
"We are pretty excited about what we were able to accomplish this early," Schafer added.
The Hardrockers won't be in action again until Jan. 13, 2013, back in Spearfish for the Black Hills State Invitational.