BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Black Hills State University track and field teams took to the road for the first time this season and went up against some top competition at all levels – NCAA Division I, II and NAIA at the Jim Emmerich Invite, hosted by South Dakota State University. The Yellow Jackets recorded 16 personal bests at the meet, building momentum for the rest of the indoor season.
 
"This group proved they want to be great today. I'm incredibly proud of the efforts we put forth," noted head track & field coach Austin Billings. "Their energy and attitudes throughout this meet were everything we look and ask for as a staff. We know there is still a long season ahead but today was a large step forward towards our goals as a program."
 
Sully Mack (Gr., Watertown, S.D.) was the second-highest finishing Division II athlete in the weight throw today, throwing a distance of 17.76m for a fifth-place overall finish.
 
Freshman Lane Longbrake (Fr., Belle Fourche, S.D.) was the highest finishing DII athlete in the men's pole vault, clearing a height of 4.45m for the Yellow Jackets. He tied with Dordt University's (NAIA) Yura Rozendal with the mark, with three Division I athletes finishing with a clearance height of 4.75m. For Longbrake, the jump sets a new personal-best and puts him eighth in the RMAC for the event.
 
Braden Anderson (So., Haxtun, Colo.) took a sixth-place finish in the men's 800-meter with a time of 1:55.09. In the mile run, Tim Brown (Jr., Sheridan, Wyo.) and his time of 4:13.98 set a new career-best for the junior, now sitting eighth in the RMAC in the mile run.
 
In the women's pole vault, Brekkan Lockhart (Fr.) finished tied for fifth in the event, clearing 3.15m. Furthermore, the mark is a personal best for the freshman and now puts her ninth in the RMAC in the pole vault.
 
Other notable mentions include Brett Glaser (Gr., Glasgow, Mont.) with his new career-best time in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.62, a time that now sits 11^th in the RMAC.
 
On the women's side, Kendall Tietjen (So., Clearmont, Wyo.) had a huge personal best in the 400-meter with a time of 59.96. It is the first time in her Yellow Jacket career she has run the 400m in sub-60 seconds. Sophie Curtis (Sr., Bettendorf, Iowa) recorded a personal best mark in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.37. Both Teitjen and Curtis now both sit in the top-15 in the RMAC in their respective events.
 
Up Next: The Yellow Jackets will return to the Donald E. Young Fieldhouse next weekend for the Dave Little Alumni Mile on Friday and Saturday, January 26-27.