Written By Coach Shafer:

The 2000-01 school year concluded with the NAIA National Outdoor Championships and the first season in the Dac-10 Conference.  I thought it appropriate to recap the first DAC-10 campaign.  During the cross country season the team finished third at the DAC-10 Championship with a national ranking of twenty-ninth and Jason Arp earned All-Conference with his tenth place finish.  James Shipley was named NAIA Academic All-American and Jason Arp, Steve Lipetzky, and Pat Schwickerath joined James on the DAC-10 Academic All-Conference list.

       Our track & field athletes acquitted themselves well during the course of the year.  The indoor track & field season was highlighted by Casey Jeffery becoming the Hardrockers sixth NAIA All-American with his sixth place toss of 53' 5" in the shot put at the NAIA Indoor Chamiponship.   The men's team finished fifth at the DAC-10 Championship while the small women's team failed to score a point.

      The outdoor DAC-10 Championship saw the women's team of four rebound and perform very well, finishing eighth and scoring eleven points.  Each of the women competed well and three placed and or had season's and career best performances.  Sarah Farber earned a trip to the NAIA Outdoor Championship with her third place throw of 141' 5" in the discus.  Sarah finished seventeenth at the NAIA nationals.  Lindsay Young placed eighth in the 100m and fifth in the 200m at the DAC-10 championship and Cassie Keene set a personal best in the triple jump of 33' 8 ¾" (almost three feet farther than her previous season best performance).  The men's team finished seventh at the DAC-10 with the 4x800m team leading the scoring with their fourth place finish. Eric Elder was the highest individual finisher, fifth in the 400m at :49.97.  Casey Jeffery was unable to compete at the DAC-10 Championship but did finish seventeenth in the shot put and twenty-first in the discus at the NAIA Championships.  Casey also earned NAIA Academic All-American honors.  Three of the four women, Sarah Farber, Aubrey Shirk, and Lindsay Young, earned DAC-10 Academic All-Conference.  Joining them from the men's team are Jason Arp, John Beserra, Casey Jeffery, Steve Lipetzky, and Pat Schwickerath.

       Three school records were broken during the 2001 track campaign by Lindsay Young in the 100m (:12.73) and 200m (:26.16), and Sarah Farber in the discus (141' 5").  Many athletes secured spots on the Hardrocker top ten list:  Casey Jeffery 2nd in the shot put (53' 5") and 6th in the discus (152' 4"); Pat Schwickerath 8th in the 10k (33:57.04) and 9th in the 5k (15:44.84); Jake Courtney 3rd in the high jump (6' 6"); Chris Rivera 4th in the triple jump (44' 7 ½"); Aaron Frederick 7th in the long jump (22' 3"); Carl Koenig 7th in the discus (150' 2"); Lance Gilmore 10th in the 800m (1:58.17); Aubrey Shirk 2nd in the high jump (5' 0"); Cassie Keene 3rd in the triple jump (33' 8 ¾") and 6th in the long jump (15' 2"); and Sarah Farber 3rd in the javelin (107') and 6th in the shot put (34' 9").

       We are about to complete our recruiting for the coming year and there are several newcomers that should help us right away next year.  Watch the track web page for the complete list.  We will also return two key redshirts next year, Nick Bitz (three time conference discus champion, school record holder, and two time national competitor) and Bob Pentland (conference indoor triple jump champion, and strong competitor in the long jump, javelin, and relays as well).  With the newcomers and our strong returning core we will work to improve upon the inaugural DAC-10 season finishes.

       The Alumni cross country weekend will be September 8, 2001 and we would like to field an Alumni Team for the Tech Invitaional meet.  The track & field weekend will be in conjunction with the Bauer Invitational March 23, 2002.  If you wish to compete in any of the special Alumni events or you plan to attend please e-mail me at jschafer@taz.sdsmt.edu , call or write.

       Again thank you for your support.  Your generosity has alowed us to increase our scholarship awards this season and helps in recruiting quality student athletes to carry on the rich tradition of which you have been part.  The Hardrocker coaching staff wishes you a relaxing and enjoyable summer.