Coyotes Compete in National Pole Vault Summit

1/30/2010

Tane Owens

Reno, Nev. - Five members of the South Dakota track and field team finished in the top five of their respective division at the prestigious National Pole Vault Summit on Saturday at the Reno Event Center.

The USD women were paced by freshman Bethany Buell (St. Louis, Mo.), who finished second in the first division by clearing 12-7 1/2. Competing in the second division, junior Haley Peterson (Norfolk, Neb.) won with a mark of 11-11 3/4 and freshman Jessica Christian (Richland, Wash.) placed fifth with a leap of 11/5 3/4. Fellow freshmen Megan Meyer (Bismarck, N.D.) and Betsey Whisonant (Cody, Wyo.) finished ninth and 14th, respectively.

On the men's side, junior Tane Owens (Pierre, S.D.) claimed third with a vault of 15-5 in the second division. Fellow junior Bryan Braley (Howes, S.D.) cleared 14-9 to finish fourth in the third division and sophomore Tanner Willard (Belle Fourche, S.D.) was eighth in the fourth division.

South Dakota continues its indoor season with two meets next weekend. The Coyotes will return to Lincoln, Neb., for the Frank Sevigne Invitational on Feb. 5-6 and also host the John Dalton Meet on Feb. 6.