NCAA West Region: USD's 15 best taking it to the next level

It will be a pleasantly busy end of the week for the University of South Dakota track teams, which will be sending 15 athletes to the NCAA Division I West Region Preliminary Round in Fayetteville, Ark.

It's a diverse group of Coyotes with both veterans and first-time competitors qualifying among the top 48 from the western states in their respective events with all of them aiming to finish among the top 12 this week. That would mean a trip to the NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Ore., which begins June 11.

On the veteran side of things, nobody headed for Arkansas can match the type of adventures in NCAA competition that Bethany Firsick can. The senior, who competed as Bethany Buell last year, won the national title in the pole vault in dramatic fashion, clearing 14-7.5 on her last attempt to earn the first-ever accomplishment of that kind for the school and for the state.

A year later Firsick has been doing what she can to heal a broken hand that slowed her final outdoor season to a halt. She has competed only once outdoors, going 13-5.75 on April 19, but that was good enough to qualify her (23rd) for the meet.

She "got off the ground" this week during workouts, according to women's coach Lucky Huber, but her preparation for an attempt to defend her title has not been ideal.

"We're in a good spot but not a great spot," Huber said. "I was pretty impressed with what she was able to do this week. If anyone can handle a situation like this, she's the one."

Firsick spent much of last year's outdoor season hampered by an injured shoulder and was wearing a brace when she won the title, so breaking out the best while seemingly underprepared is part of her history. Also aiding her is that the national meet – if she can qualify – is still more than two weeks away.

"She doesn't have to win – she has to finish in the top 12 this week," Huber said. "If she can make a few bars and get qualified, then she has more time to heal, so we'll see what happens."

As is custom, the Coyotes will be well-represented in the event, even though 2013 national indoor runner-up Emily Grove is redshirting this outdoor season. Madison Mills (9th ranked/13-9.25), Hunter Wilkes (13th /13-7.25) and Emily Brigham (24th /13-5.25) are also representing USD in the event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Also representing the women are Meghan Dennis (javelin/29th), Danielle Waldner (shot put/38th), Amber Eichkorn (10K, 47th) and Ashley Thompson (triple jump/29th).

The men's squad, which won the Summit League indoor meet and shared the outdoor team title with North Dakota State, sends seven athletes to the meet in seven different events led by junior shot putter Kyle McKelvey, whose throw of 63-1.5 puts him in the ninth spot in the region. Senior Jeff Mettler is also a serious contender to advance based on his time of 8:51.05 in the steeplechase, which has him ranked 13th.

"Getting into the top 12 is a huge challenge for both of them but we think they can do it," USD men's track coach Dave Gottsleben said. "For Kyle, he knows he can throw with the competition. He just needs to get on one of those rolls like he did at the conference meet. When he threw 59 feet at the Summit on his first throw, he knew he'd won, but then he went 60, 61 and 62 – he needs to get pumped up like that again."

Mettler, the Eureka native who will go down as one of USD's best ever, is nearing the end of his Coyote track career with a coach who would like to see the senior go out with a bang.

"Jeff has been a trooper for this program – there's never been anyone like him," Gottsleben said. "He's probably going to have to get down into the 8:45 or 8:46 range to move on but his workouts lately have been very encouraging and we think he's ready to do that."

Other Coyotes competing are Kyle Ballew (pole vault/47th), Jeff O'Connell (long jump/40th), Denton Stephens (hammer throw/40th), Teivaskie Lewin (110 hurdles/27th) and Dustin Valind (discus/175-10).

"It's a great experience for the athletes – all of a sudden you're surrounded by 48 of the best athletes in the western U.S. in your event," Gottsleben said. "That can be pretty intimidating, but how they respond in a meet like this is what can take them to the next level."