Michael Pecha

Some people believe that track and field is an individual sport.

Those people are right and wrong. Each athlete works hard in order to set a personal best mark. Track and field becomes a team sport though when all these individuals perform well enough to get the team recognition, whether it be from the coach, or in the form of points scored at the conference meet.

The Jackrabbit track and field team was looking for recognition this past weekend as several individuals set personal best at the Distance Extravaganza at the University of Nebraska, and the Husky Open at Saint Cloud State University.

“The team had one of the best weekends I’ve seen in the three years I’ve been here,” head coach Paul Danger said.

All five runners in the men’s mile at Nebraska set personal best times. the milers were led by Matt Pearson who lowered his provisional qualifying time, finishing in 4 minutes 8.44 seconds. Brad Lowery also set a provisional qualifying time at 4:14.28.

Alyssa Ruedebusch ran her personal best in the 5,000 meter run at 18:30.

Jamie Keck also had a good weekend.

“Jamie Keck did great in the triple jump,” Danger said. “She jumped 38-11 1/4, which is her best indoor mark by over a foot and a half. Coach Scheid has been doing a great job with the jumpers and sprinters.”

Janel Johnson set a South Dakota State indoor pole vault record with her vault of 11-3 3/4.

Jennifer Stovall set a provisional qualifying time in the 55 meter hurdles in 8.39 seconds.

The women’s 1600 meter relay team of Jennifer Stovall, Josey Meuer, Heather Hall, and Anne Jorgenson ran the fastest 1600 meter relay by an SDSU team in over six years at 3:57.98.

“Our teams are doing well,” Danger said. “We have a lot of good things happening. It’s an exciting time to be in track and field at State.”

The Jackrabbits hope to continue to improve as a team when they compete Saturday in Vermillion.