May 26, 2001

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - For the second straight year, The University of South Dakota women's track and field team has finished sixth at the outdoor NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships. The Coyotes received second place finishes from Molly Wedel, Sara Deckert and Tonya Kneifl as the Coyotes recorded 35 points and sixth place at the Division II meet held at Edwardsville, Ill., on May 24-26.

The men's team, third a year ago, finished 29th with nine points at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships at Edwardsville, Ill.

Seniors Sara Deckert and Tonya Kneifl finished their careers at South Dakota with strong performances. Deckert, a senior from Doland, S.D., finished second in the 100-meter dash, running a personal best of 11.69 and she was third in the 200 meters in 23.92. A year ago, Deckert was second in the 200-meters and fourth in the 100-meter dash which gives her four top five finishes in the 100 and 200 meters at national competition. She was also the indoor 400-meter champ. With two all-American honors at this meet, Deckert finished her career as a six-time all-American.

Kneifl went 5'09. 25 in the high jump to finish second in that event. The senior from Newcastle, Neb., tied her own outdoor record with her effort. Kneifl, second in the high jump at the indoor nationals in March, earned her ninth all-American honor.

Molly Wedel (Jr., Spencer, Iowa), who finished second in the 10,000 meters on Thursday, took fourth in the 5,000 meters, running a personal best and school record of 17:00.02. That 5,000 meters time was nearly five seconds better than Wedel's record of 17:05 she set in 2000. In her 10,000-meter performance on Thursday, she bettered the South Dakota school record by 24 seconds, running a 35:01.05. With two more all-American honors, Wedel has 10 all-American honors in her career.

Andrew Neugebauer (Sr., Dimock, S.D.), who had posted the best prelim time of 1:49.45 on Friday, finished third for the second straight year in the 800-meter run. Neugebauer had a 1:51.69 to capture his ninth all-American honor at South Dakota. Ronnie McDougle (Fr., Pompano, Fla.) ran a 21.47 and finished sixth in the 200-meter dash. It was McDougle's first all-American honor.

In all USD tied or set three school records and had seven athletes receive all-American honors.

Men's Results

800-meter Run: Neugebauer, 3rd, 1:51.69

200-meter Dash: McDougle, 6th, 21.47

4x400 Relay: (Lee Lockwood, Rapid City, S.D.), Neugebauer, Joel Solmonson (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) and McDougle, 9th, 3:14.93

Long Jump: Chris Slatt (Jr., Fairmont, W.V.), 9th, 23'1.

110 meter Hurdles: Josh Hofer (Soph., Freeman, S.D.), 11th, 14.87

Shot Put: Bill Gassen (Soph., Rapid City, S.D.), 15th, 50'03.25

10,000 meter Run: Jason Probasco (Sr., Woodbine, Iowa), 11th, 30:52.23; Noah Deyo (Sr., Rapid City, S.D.), 16th, 31:09.10

Women's Results

High Jump: Kneifl, 2nd, 5'09.25

100-meter Dash: Deckert, 2nd, 11.69

200-meter Dash: Deckert, 3rd, 23.92

5,000-meter Run: Wedel, 4th, 17:00.02

10,000-meter Run: Molly Wedel, 2nd, 35:01.

Pole Vault: Sandy Pelkofer (Jr., Rapid City, S.D.), 11th, 11'1.75

Discus: Mandi Muller (Jr., Schuyler, Neb.), 15th, 135'2

Shot Put: Muller, 15th, 42'03.50

Hammer Throw: Muller, 9th, 160'11

800-meter Run: Tammy Christensen (Soph., Freeman, S.D.), 19th, 2:16.69

Javelin: Kneifl, 16th, 113'00

Complete results can be found at the NCAA Division II Championships' Web site.