Tiger track and field inks local talent

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University track and field Head Coach Derik Fossum added local talent to his 2017-18 roster with Plankinton, S.D., native Savannah Schmidt.

 Schmidt attended Plankinton High School where she ran long-distance events. Her best time in the mile run was 5:46. In the 3200-meter run she placed 11^th with her best time of 12:11. She also ran the 4000-meter run in a best of 15:11 that placed 25^th at the state meet and the 5000-meter run with a time of 20:13. Schmidt placed fifth at the state meet in the 3200-meter relay with a school record time of 9:50.

 She also has a decorated career in cross country with a ninth, seventh, fifth and third-place finishes at the South Dakota State Cross Country Meet. The 5-foot-6 runner won the CBH Conference Championship five years, the Region 5A Championship three times and the CESD Conference Championship twice. Schmidt has won over 20 cross country team meets while being a 10-time individual cross country team champion and a six-time individual cross country meet runner-up. She was named cross country MVP three times, Hustler and Hardest Worker Award, while being named team captain six times and named track MVP twice.

 "We are thrilled to add Savannah to our team," Fossum said. "She is everything a coach looks for; passionate about her sport, excellent student and an outstanding person. She will be a great representative of the Tiger family."

 Born on June 26, 1999, she is the daughter of Justin and Bonnie Schmidt and plans to major in elementary education while at DWU.