Last weekend was the calm before the storm, so to speak, for South Dakota track and field. This weekend, the conference meets overwhelm the USA as well as the BROOKS HIGH SCHOOL PR Invite. I have not seen the fields, but from what Nebraska Norm says, Smoragiewicz and Waddell are again racing. That's exciting and maybe something we are taking for granted: having South Dakotans at this huge, national, elite HS meet. Is Kari Heck in the meet? I have to ask, as I know she is Top 20 in the US. I could also Google this. Hmmm.

Also, I am rememembering (well, actually, I just checked the lists..and edited them) a couple of state records in from USD field-men. Cody Snyder busted the school record of Steve Schmidt, throwing nearly 58 feet and Kyle Ballew vaulted higher than Sam Pribyl and former Yote, Derek Miles (the Olympian) to claim USD's record and the State Indoor record.

Lots of good marks from the Husker Last Chance Meet as well.

Check the Tweets from last weekend: LOTS OF GOOD TRACK ACTION.

Held at one of the coolest indoor facilities around; The Donald E. Young Center in Speafish- the Independant Open was a final chance for many S.D. College athletes without a conference affiliation to race their final 2012 indoor meet.

It was a tough year for schools like Black Hills State, Tech and USF, who are all in transition to NCAA II. No conference and national meets to peak for- and a lot of strategic red-shirting because of this.

Back to the meet, there were some good marks; Mike Hoffman (1500) and Matt Fideler (3k) won by a country mile in their respective races and Erin Curran (BHSU) set the indoor 1500 meter record for the Yellowjackets as well.

RESULTS

Dyestat Leaders

Great indoor season continues for Kari Heck; is 20 feet out of the question in the outdoor season?

Even MORE changes to the top 10 lists this weekend. This really has been a banner season for South Dakota colleguate track. AND- you also have to realize that there are a couple of schools (USF and BHSU) that are red-shirting A TON of athletes, as they are in NCAA II transition.

UPDATED LISTS

( I promise that the women's lists will be finished before the end of indoor; there have been a couple of e-mails about those.)

High School Track and Field coming up...check out the FORUM and put in your 2 cents!

I think there were 13 guys who ran 3:58 or better this weekend; that's not an exaggeration, but a fact or near fact. For those watching Milrose on YouTube (yes, you heard correctly...YouTube streamed the meet- not quite "TV", but hey, I bet a million people at least caught a glimpse as it was on the main page.) you saw THREE 5k records go down (US, Collegiate and the HS record) and then Rupp went ahead and broke Lagat's 2 mile record, dipping under 8:10.

Now for South Dakota track...check our Tweets and you'll catch a lot of the action. Here's a couple of highlights (no tenths, hundredths or even fact checking, so there will be some errors, but you'll get the gist).

Jeff Mettler... this guy is on fire. Just when you think he's done, he posts another big mark...this time an 8:15 3k, breaking MATT HOYT'S record...now those were some big shoes to out run.

Casey Shade: 1:50.5x...he's inching closer to SUB 1:50; Omot was signed up in Shade's heat as well, but obviously didn't run.

Travis Fitzke...the guy has range..just ran a 4:06 @ Iowa State- he's also gone 8:08 (3k) and 1:51

Jake Schneller...1:51.1x. I would not be the least bit suprised if he dips under 1:50 either...maybe it will be at the Summit League meet vs. Shade. Speaking of the Summitt League..these guys have to battle Cam Levins, who has just clocked some of the fastest 5k, 3k and Mile times in collegiate history.

Emma (Erickson) Ladwig...2:08; she's about as consistent as you can imagine...2:09, 2:09, 2:08...nice stuff.

Augie has some nice performances @ Iowa State as well- Beniak going 4:11 was a highlight there.

There were a ton of great races I missed, but it's late, I have to run and tomorrow is Valentines Day...the end of the Run Reckless contest...so enter!

UMary results (coached by former BHSU distance standout, Dennis Newell); lots of SD runners on their squad: Thomas Kjerengtroen, Eamin Entwisle and Shaun Henderson to name a couple.

RESULTS

As has been the theme of the early indoor season- S.D. people are running fast. After a huge weekend at the Bill Bergan meet, many of the same teams that competed @ Iowa State were back in Nebraska for the annual Husker Invite.

Lots of great middle and distance action from South Dakota runnners:

Robert Brockmueller, one of several USF red-shirts this season (they are in a DII transition) had a great 5k/3k double (14:46/8:28) finishing in the top three in both events. Greg Vollmer (SDSU) went 8:33 in the 3k as well. Jessica Brandli (USD) ran really well in the 3k- clocking 10:05.08- I didn't check, but that seems like a PR. Leigh Ann Whiteside (BHSU) also ran well, running 10:13.89 to finish 6th.

The Miles/800's were great. For the mlers, Andy Coy (4:11.12), Michael Krsnak (4:11.49), Travis Brenner (4:13.87), Matt Fideler (4:14.24), Jeff Mettler (4:15.53) and Dom Thellen (4:17.10) ran great. Alex Muntefering was also entered in the mile, but fell on the first lap. Three women broke 5:10: Erin Hargens 5:05.27; Ashleigh Geise (USD) 5:07.36 and Danielle McCann (SDSU) 5:09.55.

Blazing fast 800's highlighted the end of the meet as Jake Schneller continued his best indoor season yet, running 1:51.58, closely followed by Travis Fitzke, who has shown great range, running sub 8:10, sub 4:10 and now 1:51.77. Casey Shade and Alex Espeland posted a pair of 1:53's. Emma Ladwig posted another fast one: 2:09.02 for 2nd place.

Husker Invite Results

Dordt College Results

Heck and the Huskers

Great pick-up for the Huskers, as Heck has already been having a great indoor season, posting a 19'00.00" LJ @ the Minnesota State Initational (college meet).