In one of the tightest races since The Summit League Commissioner’s Cup was formed in 1996, South Dakota edged South Dakota State by a single point as their men’s and women’s programs garnered 90 points between them to capture the athletic department’s first cup.
The Coyotes pulled off the feat with only one championship in women’s cross country, but seven other USD squads took runner-up finishes to pile up the necessary points to claim the title. The only tighter race for the Commissioner’s Cup was in 2011 when the Jackrabbits won their first cup by a half-point over former member Oakland.
The Coyotes also topped the Dr. Helen Smiley Women’s All-Sports Award standings with 62 points, while South Dakota State led the Dr. William Steinbrecher Men’s All-Sports Award standings with 41.5 points.
North Dakota State took third overall with 80.0 points and was 10 off the pace set by the Coyotes. The Bison, who were the two-time defending cup champions, made a charge by winning the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field titles along with the softball crown during the spring.
