SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University track and field teams are back in action as they resume their competition schedule this Friday at the Donald E. Young Center. Field events are slated to begin at 3:30 p.m., with running events at 4:15 p.m. The meet will run on a "rolling schedule," so events will begin quickly, and the meet will move fast.

"The teams have worked hard this pre-season," said head track and field coach Seth Mischke. "I'm looking to see who will make that leap and really step up for us this season."

This marks the first time this season that the full squad will be in action. Last time out, BHSU dominated the Yellow Jacket Holiday Open, winning every event except one in the women's competition, while the men won six events. Both squads won the meet.

The Green and Gold have some firepower returning and will be looking to that experience for leadership this season. Senior Jonah Theisen enters his final season and looks to add to his long list of accomplishments. Theisen is coming off an All-American finish this past cross country season, and looks to return to the National Meet in the Distance Medley Relay where he, along with returners juniors Jordan Theisen and Taylor Hepp, finished ninth for second team All-American accolades a year ago. Jordan Theisen was also a provisional qualifier in the indoor 800m a year ago. Senior Levi Fried also looks to have an impact as he, along with Jonah Theisen, are returners from the second place All-American DMR from 2016.

Junior Tristian Hepp will continue his successful career. Last season he provisionally qualified in the indoor and outdoor high jump, along with the 400m hurdles. Sophomore Allan McDonnell will continue to lead in the field events; last year he won the RMAC Indoor Championships in the high jump, good for a top-20 ranking in the nation.

The women head into 2019 lead by a pair of vaulters. Sophomores Jordyn Huneke and Whitney Scott both competed at the Outdoor National meet in 2018. Huneke finished in a tie for 14th. Looking to make an impact on the track is junior Nicole Allerdings. SHe is coming off BHSU's first All-American finish in cross country. 

Senior Alexandra Richards will continue to provide solid leadership for the team. She finished in a tie in third place in the high jump at the RMAC Indoor Championships last year.

Things to Note:

-The high school meet that has traditionally been on the Saturday after the Myrle Hanson Open has been canceled for 2019. The BHSU coaching staff is looking at alternate dates to host a high school meet this season.

-Look for the paper sign up for the Track and Field Ten for Ten Fundraiser. Anyone who signs up at the meet will be entered a drawing to win some BHSU XC/T&F gear! More info and the online enrollment can be found here: https://bhsuathletics.com/sb_output.aspx?form=1009

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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---