SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's and women's indoor track and field teams traveled to Spearfish, South Dakota, Friday afternoon to compete in the Myrle Hanson Memorial Invitational hosted by Black Hills State at the Donald E. Young Center Field House.

It was the first meet the 'Rockers competed in since the beginning of December.

"This meet was a good way to shake off some of the rust," said Hardrocker track and field head coach Steve Johnson. "We saw that many of our athletes were able to come back from break and pick up where they left off. This will be a good building block for the rest of the season."

In the meet, the Hardrockers were able to secure three first-place event finishes, posted one provisional qualification for the NCAA Div. II National Indoor Track Meet and betted nine personal-best records.

Erica Keeble, who provisionally qualified for the Nation Meet in the pole vault back in December, did it again Friday taking second in the event after clearing a height of 3.60 meters. Her mark from the December meet (at BHSU) was 3.75. She is currently ranked first in the RMAC and seventh in the nation.

Casey Skillingstad also performed well in the pole vault, taking first place in the men's division after clearing a height of 4.35 meters. He is ranked 10th in the RMAC after the weekend at that height.

Darren Nissen took top honors in the men's long jump after a leap of 6.61 meter and then followed that up with a third-place showing in the triple jump with a mark of 12.21.

Cody Allen was also an event winner, taking first in the men's shot put with a toss of 15.16 meters and then secured third place in the weight throw posting a mark of 14.61.

Other Hardrocker highlights included: Carter Kasuske secured second in the men's triple jump (13.08); Westley Siebdrath earned runner-up in the men's weight throw (14.74); Jeremy Gonzales clocked a 7.19 for third place in the men's 60-meter dash; Annalie Janus clocked a 8.18 in the women's 60 dash for third place and a PR; Jonathan Murray took third in the men's 200 (23.27); Andrew Ferris earned third in the men's 800 (2:01.05); Adaline Straatmeyer finished third in the women's mile run (5:25.37);  Tel Bostwick earned third place in the men's long jump (6.27); Erik Coleman notched third place in the men's shot put with a 14.01 for a new PR; and the men's 4x400 team of Korder Cropsey, Chase Wood, Dylan Colt and Murrey earned second place clocking a time of 3:30.87.