Black Hills State Track & Field Closes Out Indoor Season

Spearfish, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's and women's track & field teams concluded the 2011-2012 indoor today as they hosted the Independent Open at the Donald E. Young Center. The Yellow Jackets made noise in both the running and field events as they brought home several top place finishes. 

The Black Hills State women's team was on point as they hit the ground running right from the get go. It was long distance specialist Erin Curran who broke the Yellow Jacket school record in the women's 1500 meter run. Curran pulled away from the remainder of the competitive field as she finished in 4:39.85. Curran was followed by four fellow Yellow Jackets in Leigh Anne Bordewyk (4:58.27), Courtney Chase (5:16.86), Taylor Condon (5:21.07), and Becca Ellis (5:26.09).

Black Hills State also left their mark on the mid-distance races as they brought home the top two places in the women's 800 meter run. Ashlyn Wilhite was the first place finisher as she crossed the finish line in 2:27.31. Wilhite was closely followed by teammate Courtney Gross as she finished in 2:28.66.

True freshman Trisha Koch also had a notable day on the track for the Yellow Jacket women. The speedster finished in second place in the women's 60 meter dash with a finishing time of 8.40. Koch also displayed her athleticism in the long jump as she came away with a third place finish after recording a leap of 5.04 meters.

In the throwing ring, it was freshman Madison McLaughlin who once again reigned supreme over the entire field. McLaughlin picked-up first place finishes in both the women's weight throw and the women's shot put with heaves of 15.87 meters and 13.09 meters respectively.

The Black Hills State men also had a strong showing to finish the indoor season. It was Mark Wilcox who pulled out the big finish for the Yellow Jacket distance runners. Wilcox set a blistering pace as he took home a second place finish in the men's 3,000 meter run with a final time of 9:07.89.

The Yellow Jacket men's mid-distance team also finished the indoor season with a bang as they had two top finishes. Freshman sprinter Baker Diede was the first place finisher in the men's 400 meter dash. The Spearfish native finished the race with a final time of 51.26. Evan Strand was the other top finisher for Black Hills State as he recorded a 1:58.47 finishing time in the men's 800 meter run and came out in first place.

In the field events, it was long jumper Jacob Wilson who went the distance. Wilson recorded a jump of 6.58 meters, earning himself a third place finish.

Black Hills State men's and women's track & field will hope for warm weather as they travel to Sioux Falls to begin the 2012 outdoor season at the Vance Butler Invitational on April 7. The meet will be the first of six on the Yellow Jackets spring schedule.

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For more information on Yellow Jacket Athletics visit www.BHSUAthletics.com