MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women's and men's track & field teams open the indoor season on Friday and Saturday competing at the South Dakota State University Holiday Open and Multi Invitational at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings.
 
The meet begins on Friday with the men's heptathlon at 12 p.m. with running events starting at 2:40 p.m. and field events at 3 p.m. Field events and the women's pentathlon begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the heptathlon continuing at 11:30 a.m.
 
SMSU is scheduled to compete in seven meets this season in preparation for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Championships on Feb. 28-March 1 in Mankato, Minn.
 
The SMSU's men's track team is ranked 11th in the NSIC preseason poll with the women's team ranked 13th in the NSIC preseason poll released on Thursday.
 
On the women's side, senior sprinter Sierra Clifford from Hayward, Wis., and senior throws Nadia Sanford from Oak Grove, Minn., were both named an NSIC 'Athlete to Watch'.
 
Clifford earned All-NSIC honors placing third at the 2024 NSIC Indoor Championships in the 600 meters at 1:37.23.
 
"Sierra enters her senior season with several goals before she completes her career as a Mustang," said SMSU head coach Kirk Nauman. "She has placed in an individual event at the NSIC Indoor or Outdoor Championships since she has been a freshman. Her hope is to knock off more records this upcoming season."
 
Sanford also earned All-NSIC honors last winter earning second place in the shot put with a mark of 14.0m.
 
"Nadia capped off the 2024 indoor season with a NSIC runner-up finish and NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the shot put," Nauman said. "As she enters her final campaign with the Mustangs, she is hoping to improve her marks and see where it takes her."
 
On the men's side, senior sprinter Tyler Smith from Fairfield, Texas, and sophomore jumps/sprints Peda Zeba from Adrian, Minn., were both named an NSIC 'Athlete to Watch'.
 
Smith has been a three-year letter winner for the Mustangs and was a member of 4x400 relay team that placed 10th at the 2024 NSIC Indoor Championship. He captured five first-place finishes during the 2024 indoor season, including three in the 400 meters and one each in the 200-and-300 meters.
 
"Tyler has big goals as he enters his senior season at SMSU," Nauman said. "The owner of multiple school records, Tyler looks to rewrite his own records while knocking off a few more."
 
Zeba placed eight in the triple jump at the 2024 NSIC Indoor Championships with a mark of 13.92m and earned a seventh-place mark of 13.92m in the triple jump at the 2024 NSIC Outdoor Championships.
 
"Peda had an exciting freshman season which was highlighted by him being the only freshman to place in the triple jump at the NSIC Outdoor Championships," Nauman said. "With a full year of collegiate training under his belt, we are excited to see what he can do this season."
 
Following this weekend, SMSU will return to action on Jan. 25, 2025, at the Cobber Opener in Moorhead, Minn.