Black Hills State track and field had a successful opening day at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships as three student-athletes competed on the biggest stage of collegiate track and field.
 
Kyla Sawvell was the first Yellow Jacket to compete at nationals as she took the ring for the women's hammer throw. Going into the day Sawvell was ranked seventh in the hammer throw, however; Sawvell bested her rank earning a sixth-place finish for the Yellow Jackets with a mark of 56.89m (186' 7"). With a sixth-place finish in the hammer throw Sawvell was also named First Team All-American.
 
Keith Osowski was next up for the Yellow Jackets taking the track for the 3000m steeplechase at 4:40 p.m. Osowski finished his race in 8:49.62 which earned him a second-place finish in the second flight which earned him a spot in the steeplechase finals Friday at 5:15 p.m.
 
Ruby Lindquist was the final Yellow Jacket to compete Thursday as she would compete in the 3000m steeplechase at 5:10 p.m. Lindquist ran a 10:42.02 steeplechase placing 15th in the nation in the women's steeplechase after coming into the race ranked 18th.
 
Up Next
Keith Osowski is the only Yellow Jacket to compete tomorrow at the NCAA DII Championships and will take the track at 5:15 p.m. Saturday morning Kyla Sawvell is set to compete in the women's shot put at 9:15 a.m.