By RIch Winter

605 Sports

VERMILLION — After a decorated cross-country and track career at the University of South Dakota, Ella Byers is gearing up for a big spring in her final semester of eligibility. 

Byers has been part of winning Summit League team titles in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track. This spring she has her sights set on a personal goal in an individual event. 

“I would like to qualify for the NCAA West preliminaries in the 1,500-meter run,” Byers said. “I’ve talked to my coach Nolan Fife and we think it’s realistic but I would have to run a personal best to qualify for that meet.”

Byers came to the University of South Dakota after winning Class A state cross-country titles in 2015 and ‘18. Byers placed in seven events during her track and field career with Chamberlain High School. South Dakota track fans likely remember a spate of injuries during high-school that kept Byers from having an even better high school career.

Byers feels like those injury lessons learned have helped her in college. 

“Having so many injuries in my high school career was actually beneficial to me,” she said. “I’m very mindful of how much I’m running, how I’m feeling, how I’m sleeping and it’s made me more aware of what I need to do to stay healthy.”

At the 2024 Summit League Indoor Track & Field Championships Byers was a busy woman. On Friday, she qualified for the finals in the 800-meter run. That same day she anchored the distance medley relay team to both a Summit League title and a record (11:36.56).

On Saturday, she finished eighth in the 800-meter run and second in the 1,600-meter run (4:47.07).

Ella Byers finished second in the mile run at the 2024 Summit League indoor championships - Photo courtesy of University of South Dakota athletics

Byers has done a lot of things during her career but the relay was the first one she’d ever run on collegiately. 

“That was one of my favorite experiences at a Summit League meet just because I hadn’t run one before,” Byers said. “It is different winning with other people than just by yourself. Jacey Pulse of McCook Central Montrose was on that relay so it’s nice to compete with other girls from South Dakota that are doing really well at this level.” 

Byers paid credit to her former high school coach Garry Winter for putting her in position to have success in college. When state cross-country meets aren’t in Rapid City, Byers always goes out to watch her former team compete. 

“I think coach Winter did a really nice job building a distance running culture out there,” she said. “We’ve had some years where it ebbed a little but it has alway been steady.”

After Winter retired Holly Evans took over and has led the Cubs to runner-up team finishes in each of the last three Class A state cross-country meets. Current Chamberlain senior Kinsey Evans will be running for the University of South Dakota next fall. 

“I’m excited for Kinsey because she has this energy and a really competitive spirit,” Byers said. “After coach Winter retired I think Holly Evans stepped in and the tradition has just continued.” 

Byers’ final year of school has been excessively taxing. In addition to her regular classes and putting in miles for her cross-country and track seasons Byers has been student teaching. 

“A few years ago I switched my major to secondary education,” she said. “The first semester I taught at the middle school and this semester I’m teaching freshman and juniors at the highschool level.” 

That schedule took a moment to adjust to. 

“In the fall I was worried about being able to hit the mileage I wanted and was worried I might burn out,” she said. “It’s gotten a little easier but it is a very strict schedule but I do know where I’ll be at all points of the day. Some days I won’t be able to get the mileage in but it really depends on my energy level, how long the school day was and if I was teaching or observing.” 

After graduating from high school in 2018 Byers said one of her goals was to break five minutes in the mile run. Her best time in the mile is 4:46.05. Her personal best in the 1,500-meter run is (4:24.35), a time that will need to improve on slightly to make that west regional track meet. 

“My coach told me it’s going to take 4:20 or 4:22 or faster,” she said. “If I do everything I want to do it would be really cool to shoot for under 4:20, anything is possible.”