ALLENDALE, Mich. – The University of Sioux Falls’ Brigitte Gross earned runner-up honors in the pole vault at the NCAA Division II track and field meet Thursday.
The former Hanson High standout, who won the Division II indoor title earlier this year, ends her career as the most decorated athlete in USF track history as she has earned four NCAA All-American honors in addition to her three NAIA All-American honors.
Gross tied her season best with her vault of 13-5¼. Kristen Hixson of Grand Valley State won at 14-5¼.
USD sends 15 to West Preliminary
The University of South Dakota will send 15 track and field athletes and South Dakota State three to the NCAA Division I West Region Preliminary Round starting Thursday in Fayetteville, Ark.
The top 48 declared athletes in each event qualified for the meet while the top 12 finishers from each individual event will move on to the NCAA Championships on June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore.
USD has two athletes ranked in the top 12 in the region: Kyle McKelvey in the men’s shot put (ninth, 63-1½) and Madison Mills in the women’s pole vault (ninth, 13-9¼).
USD has three other women competing in the pole vault: Hunter Wilkes (13th, 13-7¼), Bethany Firsick (23rd, 13-5¾) and Emily Brigham (24th, 13-5¾). Other USD women competing are Meghan Dennis in the javelin (29th, 156-8); Danielle Waldner in the shot put (38th, 50-6¾); Amber Eichkorn in the 10,000 (47th, 35:00.46); and Ashley Thompson in the triple jump (29th, 41-2¼).
USD’s other men’s competitors are Kyle Ballew in the pole vault (47th, 16-11¾); Jeff O’Connell in the long jump (40th, 24-5¾); Denton Stephens in the hammer throw (40th, 198-6); Teivaskie Lewin in the 110 hurdles (27th, 13.99); Jeff Mettler in the 3,000 steeplechase (13th, 8:51.05); and Dustin Valind in the discus (48th, 175-10).
SDSU is represented by three women: Mary Wirth in the high jump (10th, 5-10¾); Kali Olson in the high jump (43rd, 5-8¾); and Shelby Assmus in the shot put (47th, 48-4).
Also, North Dakota State’s Alex Renner, from Watertown, will compete in the shot put (36th, 17.52 meters) and Oklahoma’s Caitlin Way, from Mitchell, will compete in the hammer throw (35th, 58.62m).
USD men sign Twin Cities guard
VERMILLION – South Dakota men’s basketball coach Craig Smith announced the signing of Bloomington, Minn., native Dejon “DJ” Davis to a national letter of intent.
Davis, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard, averaged 22 points and 6.5 rebounds as a senior at Kennedy High School this past season, earning Class 4A all-state honors. The three-time all-conference performer helped lead Washburn to a runner-up finish in the Class 3A state tournament in 2012 before moving to Kennedy prior to his junior year.
Canaries lose 5th straight game
ST. PAUL – The Canaries suffered their fifth straight American Association loss Thursday night, falling 10-8 to the St. Paul Saints.
St. Paul used a four-run fourth inning to break a 3-3 tie and go ahead for good. Angela Songco was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI for the Saints.
For Sioux Falls (2-4), Carlos Mendez was 2-for-5 with three RBI. He had an RBI double in the first inning and a two-run single in the second. Drew Muren and Chris Duffy were each 2-for-4 with a double, while Chris Valencia had a two-run homer in the ninth.
John Brebbia (1-1) took the loss.
Roosevelt names soccer coaches
SOCCER:Roosevelt has officially hired its varsity soccer coaches: Dallas Wilkinson (boys) and Becky Janssen (girls).
BASEBALL: The Washington Nationals’ Blake Treinen, a former South Dakota State standout, took the loss in a 3-1 defeat Thursday at Pittsburgh. Treinen (0-2) went 52/3innings and gave up four hits and two runs. He struck out four and walked five.
From: http://www.argusleader.com/story/sports/2014/05/23/sports-briefs-usfs-brigitte-gross-earns-runner-pole-vault/9477643/
*** The articles that we post on this website are searched from the Internet and don’t reflect our views. VAULTER Magazine LLC. is bringing the pole vault news to the reader in one central location. ***
