SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University track & field kicked off its 2015-16 campaign Saturday with the Yellow Jacket Holiday Open in the Young Center. The men's team opened the season ranked No. 23 in the nation.
Ryan Mehalick and Alex Anderson formed a one-two tandem in the men's heptathlon. Mehalick won the event with 4,113 points while Anderson scored 3,823 points in the six event competition.
In the women's shot put, Avery Allen led a one-two punch with a toss of 40-6.26. Finishing in second place was Michaela Cermak with a throw of 39.09.25.
Coming off an All-American campaign last season as part of the distance medley relay team, Chris Johnson won the 800-meter run in 1:59.45. Keegan Her Many Horses placed third in 2:01.68 in his collegiate track debut.
Also winning for the Yellow Jackets was Josh Dotson in the triple jump. Dotson had a leap of 45-9.25 inches. Kaitlyn Hadley placed second on the women's side with a leap of 35-0.5.
On the women's side, Cailey Roth clocked in with a time of 2:29.40 seconds good enough for third place.
Tyler Mayhue had a strong showing in his Yellow Jacket debut placing second in the long jump. He had a leap of 20-10.75 inches for the Silver Medal.
The Yellow Jackets had back-to-back finishes in the 60-meter dash as Heidi VanLishout timed in at 8.0 seconds for second place and Shayne Soderstrom in third place in 8.06 seconds.
On the men's side Miles Roberston claimed second place with a finish in 6.9 seconds which is a school record. He initially tied his own previous school record during the prelims in a qualifying time of 6.94 seconds.
Soderstrom then went on to win the 200-meter dash in 26.79 seconds while Taylor Arsaga placed third in 28.12 seconds. Trent Baldwin went on to place third on the men's side in 22.92 seconds.
Chandra Sturtz and Courtney Cassen tied for second place in the pole vault. The duo each hit 10-6 on the vault. On the men's side, Bryce Boser hit 14-11 inches for a second place finish.
In the high jump, Alexadnra Richards had a leap of 5-2.25 to place second in her first-ever collegiate event. Also placing strong in her first-ever collegiate event, Taylor Arsaga timed in at 9.55 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.
The mile run saw freshman Levi Fried place third with a time of 4:30.00.
Avery Allen claimed the Bronze Medal in the weight throw with a toss of 47-3.75. Also with a third place finish was Jake Iverson in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:56.46.
Tori Moore was able to snag a second place finish in the 3K with a time of 11:06.36.
Black Hills State takes a couple weeks off of meets before returning to the Young Center Fieldhouse for Myrle Hanson Memorial Open on January 15.
