SPEARFISH, S.D. – Sophomore Allan McDonnell cleared 2.06 meters in the high jump to win the 2019 Myrle Hanson Memorial Open. The jump was good to provisionally qualify McDonnell for the NCAA Championships. He is currently tied for tenth in the nation. In the pole vault, sophomore Jordyn Huneke cleared 3.75 meters, also provisionally qualifying for the National Championships. She is currently tied for seventh in the nation. Meanwhile, junior Katie Campbell won the 60 hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. These three led the Yellow Jackets to a dominating performance at the Myrle Hanson Open, winning 13 events on the women's side and seven on the men's side.

"There was a lot of energy from the team tonight," said head coach Seth Mischke. "That translated to some solid performances. We will need a lot more of both as the season progresses."

In the field events, senior Alexandra Richards won the high jump, besting second place by over half a foot. Sophomore Whitney Scott cleared her way to third place in the pole vault. Snagging third place in the long jump was senior Hayley Bowen. In the shot put, freshman Kyla Sawvell out-threw the competition by over three feet to win. She also easily won the weight throw. Sawvells' teammate, sophomore Maddi Fidler, took second in the weight throw.

Junior Tristan Hepp was second in the high jump behind McDonnell; he also took second in the 60 meter dash and won the 200 meter dash, edging out his brother, junior Taylor Hepp. Sophomore Joe Melia cleared his way to second place in the pole vault, while sophomore Hoyt Nicholas edged out second place by inches to win the weight throw.

In the sprints, sophomore Markez Boykin won the 60 meter dash, barely edging out Tristan Hepp. Senior Seth Kovar and sophomore Seth Hills took second and third, respectively, in the 60 meter hurdles. The 4x400 meter relay of Hills, Ryan Olsen, Keegan Her Many Horses, and Taylor Hepp, took third.

Senior Shayna Soderstrom won the 60 meter dash, while her teammate, freshman Breanne Fuller, was right behind in second place. Soderstrom also won the 200 meter dash. BHSU also picked up second and third in the 200, with junior Zoe Langseth taking second, and sophomore Julette Goehring taking third. Goehring also took third in the 60 meter hurdles. The Green and Gold also picked up the win in the 4x400 meter relay.

In the distance events, junior Abbie Fredrick won the mile by almost 10 seconds; her teammate, freshman Erica Dykstra, took second. It was another 1-2-3 in the 800 meter run for the Yellow Jackets, as senior Cailey Roth won by over eight seconds, while freshman Jules Ward and sophomore Mason Hudyma took second and third, respectively.

BHSU flexed its muscles in the 3000m run, sweeping the top five spots. Sophomore Xiomara Robinson picked up the win, while senior Tori Moore was right on her heels for second. Moore also just missed third in the mile, placing fourth. Senior Nicole Davis took third.

In the men's mile, BHSU once again went 1-2-3. Junior Jordan Theisen edged out his brother, senior Jonah Theisen, for the win. Jordan Theisen also won the 800 meter. Jonah Theisen, who took second in the mile, doubled back to win the 3000m run. Claiming third in the mile race was senior Levi Fried, who came back for second in the 800 meter dash.

In the last sweep of the top spots, finishing behind Jonah in the 3000m was senior Nate Fredrick, and sophomore Matt Parker sprinted his way to third.

The Green and Gold track and field team is back in action next Sunday, January 20, at Chadron State.

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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.

---BHSUAthletics.com---