By Luke Schweitzer, Assistant Sports Information Director
RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Dakota School of Mines men's and women's indoor track and field teams resumed action this past weekend competing at the Black Hills State Indoor Invite in Spearfish, S.D. The Hardrockers moved forward in the season earing seven first-place finishes and establishing 17 personal-best marks during the meet.
"This was our first test following winter break, and we are pleased with the overall condition our student-athletes returned in," said Hardrocker head track and field coach Jerry Schafer. "We are happy with our results on the weekend and look forward to improving throughout the season."
SD Mines junior Anna Haneline (Plattesmouth, Neb.) built off her strong start from the BHSU Early Bird Invite back in December when she charted two event titles and two personal-best records during Saturday's meet. Haneline placed first in the women's 200-meter dash (27.35 seconds) for a personal-best indoors mark, while also placing first in the woman's long jump (16-feet-9.25-inches). She placed second in the women's 60 Dash (8.28-8.35), her second personal best on the day.
Lady Hardrocker sophomore Kaelyn Kenner (Rapid City, S.D.) set a new indoor personal-best with a first place finish in the 400 Dash (1:08.53).
SD Mines junior Lillian Temple out jumped her competition and posted a first-place finish on Saturday in the women's high jump (5-3.25). Temple also achieved an indoor personal-best in the high hurdles (10.65-10.42) while placing third.
On the men's side, junior Seth Brotherton (Pierre, S.D.) excelled in the triple jump as he topped the rest of the field, posting a leap of 42-10.25.
SD Mines junior Brian Freed topped the field in the men's weight throw (55-4.75) for first and personal-best. Freed also competed in the men's shot put taking third with a throw of 46-8.75.
SD Mines sophomore Sam Hill (Yankton, S.D.), competing unattached, had a strong day equaling his personal-best and grabbed top honors in the process of men's pole vault (14-7.25). Hill increased his pole vault height by two inches from the previous meet at BHSU.
"Overall, we are happy with the performance of our field athletes with five first-place finishers," said assistant SD Mines track and field coach Steve Johnson. "Lillian Temple and Brian Freed started the meet off strong with first-place finishes in the first two events."
Other top SD Mines performers at the BHSU Invite on the men's side include: freshman Nick Alberts (Britton, S.D.) took third place setting an indoor personal-best in the men's 200 Dash (24.36) and a personal best in the long jump (19-1.25); the men's 4x400 relay team (Garrett Shaal, Josh Clemens, Taylor Heaps, Brotherton) secured first with a time of 3:34.29; freshman Ricky Hulse (York, Neb.) took third in the men's long jump (19-8.25) and earned fifth in the 60 Dash which was also an indoor personal-best (7.64-7.57); junior Garrett Shaal (Gordon, Neb.) achieved an indoor personal-best and fourth-place finish in the men's 800 Run (2:04.01); freshman Colin Eiman (Box Elder, S.D.) was fourth in the high hurdles (9.31-9.54) also achieving an indoor personal-best; sophomore Taylor Heaps (Ranchester, Wyo.) took third in the men's 800 Run (2:02.88); sophomore Tyler Nack (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was third in the men's 3K race and earned a personal-best (9:04.13); sophomore Travis Buse (Lennox, S.D.) ran a personal-best in the men's 3k clocking a time of 9:16.12.
Hardrocker highlights on the women's side include: senior Alexis Godeke (Antwerp, Ohio) placed third in the women's 800 Run (2:37.61); sophomore Lindsay Kirby (Broomfield, Colo.) achieved an indoor personal-best in the women's 800 Run with a time of 3:14.21; freshman Kayla Morisette (Oakdale, Minn.) earned an indoor personal-best in the women's 3k with a time of 12:14.05; sophomore McKenzie Butcher (Silesia, Mont.) finished second in the women's weight throw with a toss of 43-1 and then secured fifth in the women's shot put with a distance of 33-9.25; junior Haley Dunn (Meridian, Ida.) grabbed fourth place in the women's weight throw (40-3.5).
The Hardrockers will resume action on Jan. 26 back in Spearfish for the Black Hills State University Dave Little Invitational.