SPEARFISH, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines track and field team competed at the Dave Little Alumni Mile Open Friday and Saturday in Spearfish, SD. The event took place at the Donald Young Center on the campus of Black Hills State University.

Competing in the event were South Dakota Mines, Black Hills State University, Chadron State College, Dawson Community College, Dickinson State University, Minot State, Rocky Mountain College, College of Southern Idaho and Yellowstone Christian.

"It was really nice to get the team back on the track," said head coach Steve Johnson. "It's been 9 months since many of them were able to compete. We were glad to get out of practice mode and get some competition under our belts."

The women's team was led by senior Erica Keeble who finished first in the pole vault and fourth in the 60 meter dash. Keeble had a provisional mark with a jump of 12 feet 4.75 inches. Jenna Sayler placed second in the shot put and fourth in the weight throw. Sayler threw the shot put 39 feet .5 inches and 50 feet 6 inches in the weight throw. The mark in the weight throw moves her up to 2^nd all time for the Hardrockers. Kamryn Scully finished fourth in the pole vault and sixth in the 60 meter. Katherine Mathieu was third in the long jump and fifth in the 60 meter.

The Rockers had a number of second place finishes on the men's team this weekend.

Joel Hass ran the 5000 meter in a time of 15 minutes and 33.96 seconds. This puts him 2^nd all-time for indoors. Other second place finishes were Jared Wilson, pole vault 14 feet 1.25 inches, Brett Flerchinger in the 3000 meter with a time of 9 minutes 11.96 seconds, and Taegan Wells ran the 60 meters in 8.82 seconds. Steven Nolasco had two top 5 finishes in the triple jump (3^rd) and long jump (5^th). Other top 5 placers for the Hardrockers were Tim Dunham (5000 meter), Brent Snyder (pole vault), Wyatt Kainz (high jump), and Adam Namyst (60 meter dash).

The Rockers next event takes them back to Spearfish for the BHSU event February 12-13 at the Donald Young Center.