March 16-17, 2001

TUCSON, Ariz. - Several members of The University of South Dakota Track and Field team excelled at the 18th annual Willie Williams Classic on Friday and Saturday, March 16-17 at Tucson, Ariz. The meet included teams such as USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Purdue, Western Michigan, New Mexico and New Mexico State, among others.

Topping the list of outstanding performances was South Dakota senior Andrew Neugebauer (Dimock, S.D.), who broke his own school record in the 800-meter run and automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships later this spring. Neugebauer, who ran a 1:49.80 at the same meet last year, registered his personal best of 1:48.85 in winning the 800-meter run at the meet. Sophomore John Kehoe (Rapid City, S.D.) finished third in the 800-meter run in 1:51.77 and sixth in the 400-meters with a personal best of 47.86. Kehoe provisionally qualified in both the 800-meters and 400-meters for outdoor nationals. In addition, Ryan Bell finished 9th in the javelin with a throw of 175'9.

For the USD women, Sara Deckert (Doland, S.D.) continued to shine on the track. She finished third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.6 and she finished fifth in the 200-meter dash in 24.23. Deckert provisionally qualified for outdoor nationals in both the 200-meter and 400-meter runs. Mandi Muller (Schuyler, Neb.) placed second in the discus with a throw of 152'11, fifth in the shot put with a throw of 44'7-1/2, and eighth in the hammer throw with a toss of 156'10. Muller provisionally qualified for outdoor nationals in all three events.

"We had a number of outstanding performances," said South Dakota head track and field coach Dave Gottsleben. "The women's team had five provisional marks and the men had two provisional and one automatic qualifying marks for the outdoor nationals. I am very proud of how we performed at this highly competitive meet."