South Dakotans Get it Done for South Dakota in T&F

Who says you can't get it done in DI with South Dakota talent?
The USD men's track and field team, which has 23 South Dakotans on its roster, won the 2013 Summit League Track and Field Championship at the DakotaDome. It was the first Summit League title by any Coyotes program, a monstrous feat for a program in its second year in the league. The Coyote men's team finished with 190 points, well ahead of second place North Dakota State's 176.50. Overall, South Dakota had seven individual champions and one winning relay squad. Overall, USD's men placed first or second in 13 of 17 events. In addition, USD trailed for much of the meet but then took over with a run in the final five events of the meet.
The South Dakotans on the USD roster cut a swath across the state, big and small schools alike, and were the core of this latest  Coyote championship team.
Coach Dave Gottsleben, a native of Brookings, was named the Summit League Men's Coach of the Year. "If you read what's on our shirt, It says South Dakota and that is who we are," Gottsleben told Mick Garry of the Argus Leader. 
Leading in this exhibition of South Dakota pride was Eureka junior Jeff Mettler, who was named the Men's MVP at the Championships. All Mettler did was set a school and Summit League record in the 3K (8"18.69), win the mile run (4"11.18)  and finish third in the 5K (14:40.28). Freshman Christian Nielsen of Madison was named the Newcomer of the Championships after winning the 400M (50.28), finishing 6th in the 200 and anchoring the winning 4x400M relay. Sophomore Erik Hill of Tea was second in the 60H (8.16) and 200 meters (22.03) and ran on the 4x400M relay, which also included two other South Dakotans, Lukas Bernard of Watertown and Jeff O'Connell of Phillip. O'Connell also won the long jump(24-3.75) . In addition USD men placed 1-2 in the shot put with sophomore Kyle McKelvey of Beresford defending his title with a throw of 58-8.75 feet and Cody Snyder of Lake Andes placing second. 
Also, the Coyote women's team, which finished third (114 points) in the Summit League Championships, includes 25 South Dakotans on the roster. Two special performances of note for the women, including Bethany Buell (St. Louis, Mo.) won the pole vault with a record 14-5.5 feet and Megan Glisar (Sergeant Bluff, Iowa) captured the high jump in 5-11 1/4.
South Dakota Pride unveiled in the DakotaDome. Indeed.

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