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Coyote Student-Athlete Profile

Natalie Newman, Women’s Track

Natalie Newman

A strange twist of fate helped lead senior Natalie Newman to the University of South Dakota women’s track and field program.

“My brother’s football coach ran for Coach (Dave) Gottsleben 25 years ago and he was an All-American and had nothing but good things to say about the school,” said Newman, a native of Overland Park, Kan. “After my visit I really liked campus. I really like the coaching staff and all the girls on the team. It seemed like they were quality people. I was drawn to the community as well since the community rallies around the school.”

Women’s track and field has long been a source of pride at South Dakota and that continued during the transition to Division I as the women’s squad won three consecutive Great West Conference Indoor Championships.

“We were the first team at USD to win a conference title as a Division I and we were able to win the title at home in 2009 which made it even better,” said. Newman.

With the team’s first Summit League Outdoor meet fast approaching this week, Newman has some goals in mind. “We got second in Summit League indoor meet so it would be nice to win the outdoor meet. Personally I would like to place in the 800.”

Outside of track and field, Newman has taken up bike riding and has participated in the RAGBRAI bike ride across Iowa. She was also involved in the Girls on the Run in Vermillion. The criminal justice major graduated on May 5 and has been accepted to law school at Creighton which she will start in the fall.

What do you like most about participating in athletics at USD?
Just really special to be able to represent USD especially when we travel further away. Not many people have heard of us and there is just a lot of pride in being a Coyote.

What is your favorite sport to participate in outside of your sport?
Basketball. That was the other sport I played in HS. I loved basketball.

Most embarrassing athletic moment at USD?
As a runner the worst thing you can do is drop the baton. The only time it ever happened to me was at Iowa State in 2010.