SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University track and field teams are set to complete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships this weekend. The meet, held in Golden, Colo., is being hosted by Colorado School of Mines on April 27-29.

Events begin on Friday, April 27, at 9 a.m., with the decathlon. Events on Saturday and Sunday begin at 9 a.m., as well, with the last events scheduled for 4:15, 5:45, and 3:05 p.m., respectively.

The Yellow Jackets won seven medals at last year's events, including one victory, when Alexandra Richards claimed first place in the javelin throw. Richards is back to defend her title, entering the meet with the second best distance this season (40.76m), and will also compete in the high jump and pole vault. In last year's championships, Richards took second in the high jump, and grabbed points with a seventh place finish in the pole vault.

Other podium finishers who are returning this year are Tristan Hepp, who was second in the 400 meter hurdles and third in the high jump, and Bryce Boser, who finished second in the pole vault last year. Tristan Hepp enters this year's meet with the second best time this season in the 400 meter hurdles (52.71).

Yellow Jackets entering the meet with high ranks on the women's side include Zoe Langseth, who has the eighth best time in the 400 meter dash (58.92), Savannah Davis, who has run the seventh fastest time in the 10000 meter run (38:26.40), and Brittney Marosok, with the seventh best 100 meter hurdle (15.24) and 400 meter hurdle (1:05.77) times. The Green and Gold 4x100 meter relay team enters the meet with the fourth best time (49.59).

In women's field events, Lia Guigui has the eighth best mark in the high jump, while Jordyn Huneke's mark of 3.70 meters in the pole vault is the second best in the conference this year, and Whitney Scott is fifth entering the pole vault (3.55m).

On the men's side, Yellow Jackets with high ranks coming into the weekend include Taylor Hepp, who has the eighth best time in the 200 meter dash (21.74), as well as the sixth best 400 meter dash time (48.71). Seth Kovar's time in the 110 meter hurdles (14.98) is third best, with Tristan Hepp entering the meet with the eighth fastest time in the event (15.25). The Green and Gold men's steeplechase runners will be looking for high finishes, with Jake Iverson (9:19.71) and Jonah Theisen (9:26.14) coming in with the fifth and sixth fastest times this year. The 4x100 meter relay team enters with the fifth best time, while the 4x400 meter relay team, which set a new school record, has the third best time in the conference.

In men's field events, Allan McDonnell enters the high jump with the second best mark in the conference (2.05m). Ryan Olsen and Drazen Moratzka has the seventh and eighth top marks this year in the event. McDonnell also ranks eighth entering the meet in the triple jump (13.66m), while Olsen is eighth in the decathlon rankings.

The top-eight finishers in each event collect team points, while the top-four individual placings receive RMAC All-Conference accolades.
  Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.