Four Bobcats earn medals at USD indoor meet

Ethan Kester, Ryan Rifer, Alec Schindler and Gavin Whiting picked up the first medals of the 2024 Bobcat boys' track season, March 18, at the Dan Lennon Invitational. The annual University of South Dakota indoor meet was held in the Dakota Dome, attracting 45 Class B schools.

Kester picked up a bronze medal in pole vault. He cleared 10' 6 inches.

Rifer, competing in high jump, ended in third. He cleared 6' 3 inches. Rifer also ran the 800m in 2:37.56, finishing 37th.

Schindler placed fourth in triple jump, landing at 39' 5 inches. He also finished seventh in the 60m hurdles. In the preliminaries, Schindler ran 9.10 and set a personal record in the semifinals, clocking in at 8.91. In the finals, he ran 9.07.

In shot put, Whiting placed fifth. He threw 47' 5.25 inches.

Other Summerland competitors included:

• Ruger Switzer: seventh, high jump, 5'11" and 13th, long jump, 19';

• Parker Napier: eighth, pole vault, 9' and 9th, long jump, 19' 2";

• AJ Hobbs: ninth, triple jump, 37' 2.25" and 31st, 60m hurdles, 9.92;

• Preston Hoke: 12th, triple jump, 36' 9" and 21st, 400m, 58.40;

• Carter Bergman: 18th, high jump, 5' 3";

• Melvin Mast: 32nd, 400m, 1:00 and 35th, 60m, 7.76;

• Zander Cepel: 35th, 1600m, 5:53.61;

• Rogan Robertson: 41st, 800m, 2:38.15 and 42nd, 1600m, 5:56.70;

• Dewayne Baker: 47th, 800m, 2:49.22;

• Luis Perez: 55th, 1600m, 6:30.32;

• Connor Thomson: 61st, 60m, 8.06;

• Mathias Wagner: 64th, long jump, 15' 2.75";

• Matt Umphress: 65th, shot put, 31:10.25";

• Jason Shaver: 67th, shot put, 31' 7.5";

• Austin Mendoza: 68th, 400m, 1:07.43;

• Shayne Jenkins: 84th, 60m, 8.37;

• 4x200 (Thomson, Mast, Jenkns, Mendoza): 34th, 1:48.94; and

• 1600 sprint medley (Alec Kester, Beau Ahlers, Baker, Tucker Dougherty): 44th, 4:53.15.