RAPID CITY, S.D – The Hardrocker track and field teams performed their best at this past weekend's Kit Mayer Invitational in Golden, Colo., hosted by Colorado School of Mines.
 
With 15 new personal-best  records (PR's) , five all-time Top 10 performers, and one new school record, the 'Rocker thinclads have shown vast improvement from the start of the outdoor season despite being hampered by the winter-like weather conditions that continue to linger in the region.
 
The school record for the 800-meter run had been held by Scott Pekarek since 1984, but during Saturday's meet that mark (1:54.16) finally fell when SD Mines freshman freshman Andrew Ferris, who placed first in the race, bettered that time, clocking a 1:53.60. The Lancaster, Ohio, native won the event on Saturday as well.    
 
Hardrocker junior Kevin Thompson also performed well, placing second in the men's 100 dash with a time of 11.06.
 
The Hardrocker squad of Korder Cropsey, Kevin Ptak, Jeremy Gonzales and Thompson placed first in the men's 4x100 relay with a time of 42.34.
 
Freshman Cody Allen set a new personal best in shot put with a mark of 51 feet-7.75- inches and earn first place in the event.
 
Junior Adeline Straatmeyer took home top honors during the women's 1,500 run with a time of 4:55.40 and senior Madison Larsen placed fourth in the javelin throw with a mark of 120-9.
 
This Friday the teams will take off to Dickinson, N.D to compete at the Blue Hawk Games at Dickinson State University.