Yankton track and field posted a pair of mid-pack finishes during the ESD conference meet over the weekend, as the Gazelles finished fourth as a team, while the Bucks took fifth.
Tierney Faulk led the Gazelles as she won the long jump with a distance of 17-7, while finishing 3rd in the triple jump, 100 meter hurdles, and 300 meter hurdles. Shae Rumsey also took home an event victory, as she took 1st place in the 400 meter run. Seniors Hope Lesher, Sydnee Serck, and Thea Chance also earned top-8 finishes across the events to medal in their last ESD meet.
Austin Gobel and Cody Oswald had impressive days to lead the Bucks. Oswald posted a personal best time in the 110 meter hurdles at 14.74 seconds, which puts him second in the state. Gobel took first in the 100, 2nd in the long jump, 3rd in the 200, and was part of Yankton’s 2nd place 1600 meter relay team with Cooper Grotenhuis, Nate Schoenfelder and Rugby Ryken. Dylan Payer also took home 1st place in the 1600 meter run and the 3200 meter relay alongside Carson Conway, Oliver Dooley, Nate Schoenfelder.
Yankton will host their last chance meet on Thursday, as the event serves as the last tune-up before the state tournament.
Yankton Bucks baseball moved to a 12 and 5 record on Saturday as they split a pair of road games against Sioux Falls Lincoln and Jefferson.
The Bucks took game one 7 to 5 over Lincoln. Drew Ryken got the win on the mound as he struck out 3 batters over 5 innings, while Jack Halsted was perfect at the plate, going 3 for 3 with 2 RBI. Yankton fell to Jefferson for the third time this season in game two, as the Cavaliers posted an 8 to 5 victory. Sophomore Matthew Sheldon went 3 for 4 with an RBI in the loss.
Bucks baseball is off until next weekend’s regionals, Yankton will find out where and who they play when the standings are finalized during the week.
Yankton Gazelles softball will play their final home game of the regular season tomorrow night as they host Sioux Falls Lincoln at Sertoma Park. Tomorrow is also senior night for the Gazelles, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM.
The NAIA national baseball tournament begins across the country today. The GPAC will have three teams represent the conference as Doane, Concordia, and Morningside qualified for the tournament. Mount Marty, who just missed out on an at-large bid, finished the year with a record of 38 and 15.
Three members of the University of South Dakota track and field team were honored following last week’s Summit League championships.
The Coyotes swept the women’s track and field MVP awards, as Erin Kinney was the Track MVP, while Meredith Clark was the Field MVP. Kinney broke a pair of Summit League Championship meet records and took home four gold medals as she became the second Coyote in history to win the Track Championship MVP. Clark became the 2nd Coyote in 3 years to be named Field MVP as she took 2nd in the discus and hammer throw and 3rd in the shot put. USD freshman Mark Daley was the Men’s Newcomer of the Championship, as his performance was headlined by a 2nd place finish in the 200 meter.
The Coyotes finished 2nd in the women’s and 3rd in the men’s team competitions, while both portions were swept by North Dakota State.
