March 1, 2013
Friday Night was Alright... at the SPIRE Institute for those South Dakota track and field athletes competing in Day #2 of the 2013 NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
In the past couple weeks, the SPIRE has been host to the Big East and the Big 10 conference track and field meets and I can see why...the facility is a magnificent piece of genius. Rummage through your brain and pull out what you need to succeed in athletics...and BOOM, you’ll find it at the SPIRE. 300 meter indoor track; pitching machines, several weightrooms and cardio centers; labs, kitchens...the list goes on and on.
Back to the NAIA meet and speaking of "BOOM".....Dakota State’s SETH BOOMSMA, qualified with the #2 time into the semi-finals of the 60 Meter Dash Friday evening and then blasted a 6.74 in the semi-finals to earn the #2 (tied) spot in the finals. Boomsma (pictured at the start of his race) won Heat #2.
Another Dakota State University sprinter, D’ARTIST WILLIAMS (a freshman out of Madison) also advanced to the semi-finals in the 60 Meter Dash. He raced a 7.00 (actually, exactly the same time as prelims) in the semi’s to finish 8th in his heat.
STEPHANIE UHER (DSU) was 4th in her prelim of the 600 Meter Dash, passing two girls on the final lap while running 1:38.33.
Dakota Wesleyan’s NICOLE COURT-MENENDEZ earned NAIA All-American honors in the 3,000 Meter Race Walk, finishing in 16:06.32. Honestly, that’s some fast walking.
ANDY COY (DSU), the defending NAIA National Champion in the 1,000 Meter Run clocked the best time in the preliminary rounds, running 2:28.25 to win Heat #2. Watch the video HERE.
TAMIKA IRVIN (Dakota Wesleyan) closed out the South Dakota action at the NAIA meet, running a 25.00 in the 200 Meter Dash. Irvin, a senior, is coached by PATRICK BELLING, a former Omaha Catholic and USD standout sprinter.
RANDOM NOTES:
In the crowd was former Watertown High School and Black Hills State Track and Field All-American, TRENT MACK.
Mack is the former Cross Country and Distance Coach at Dakota State, and is now the Head Cross Country and Distance Coach at Ashland University. Coach Mack has an athlete (Tom Scott) qualified and running in the 800 Meters at the USATF Indoor Championships tomorrow in New Mexico. Mack’s Ashland distance squad is among the nation’s best and are qualified in several events for the NCAA DII meet next week.
Another BHSU graduate, MIKE NEKUDA is now coaching at Dickinson State University. Coach Nekuda’s Distance Medley Relay squad has the top time on the men's side (9:59.08) going into tomorrow’s finals.
Since we’re talking about former Black Hills State grads, let’s add one more that just received some nice accolades: University of Mary Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach DENNIS NEWELL. Newell was recently named the Central Region’s USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year and one of his athletes, MELISSA AGNEW was awarded Central Region’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Here is a little blurb from the USTFCCCA Press Release regarding Newell’s work at the University of Mary:
“Seven Marauders coached by Newell combined to win the 1000, mile, 3000, 5000 and the DMR and score 80 team points. Four NSIC and three school records were broken by his student-athletes.
Newell coached four entries to the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships. Nationally, Melissa Agnew is NCAA Division II’s top miler and ranks 13th in 800. Two-time All-American Jennifer Agnew is ranked second in the 3000 and ninth in 5000. Dakota Wolf, a five time All-American, qualified for the 5,000 and will run on the DMR. Megan Jenkins rounds out the DMR team.”
Watch for more news today on the SD.MILESPIT.COM TWITTER FEEDS FROM THE NAIA NATIONAL MEET