April 25, 2023

NSAA PRESS RELEASE

MADISON, S.D. – Conner Tordsen of Dakota State (S.D.) earned his third 2023 North Star Athletic Association Men's Outdoor Field Athlete-of-the-Week, the fifth edition of the outdoor track & field weekly awards were announced Tuesday by the conference office.  It was the second straight that he had received the conference weekly honor.

Tordsen competed in two different meets in a span of four days for the Trojans.  He faced weather challenges in the Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raiders Invitational on April 21-22, including temperatures below 40 degrees, blowing snow, and winds at 20 miles-per-hour or higher.  Those conditions did not keep him away from winning three throwing titles.

He hit 59.77 meters (196 feet, 1 inch) in the hammer throw and 52.11 meters (170 feet, 11 inches) in the discus throw in Orange City, Iowa.  Those marks met the NAIA 'A' automatic qualifying standards for the national meet.  He also added another throwing tile by tossing 15.29 meters (50 feet, 2 inches) in the shot-put.

Tordsen added a hammer throw title at the NCAA Division I meet, the Monday Meet hosted by South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D., on April 24.  He produced a mark of 60.86 meters (199 feet, 8 inches) to win the title.  He was second in the discus throw of 51.39 meters (168 feet, 7 inches).  Both of his throwing marks surpassed the NAIA 'A' automatic qualifying standards.

He had won three straight hammer throw titles, starting at the Sioux City Relays on April 14, Red Raider Open on April 21, and The Monday Meet on April 24.

According to the TFRRS website as of Tuesday, Tordsen ranks third in the NAIA in the discus throw (54.47 meters – 178 feet, 8 inches from the Wayne State Wildcat Classic on March 24) and fifth in the hammer throw (61.52 meters – 201 feet, 10 feet from the Sioux City Relays on April 14).

Conner is the son of Jamie and April Tordsen of Fairmont, Minn.  He is a senior exercise science major at Dakota State University.

Dakota State prepares for a busy week with a pair of outdoor track & field meets this week.  The Trojans compete in the Mount Marty (S.D.) Twilight meet Wednesday in Yankton, S.D.

DSU will be sending 22 athletes, including Tordsen, to the prestigious annual outdoor track & field meet at Bulldog Stadium, the 2023 Drake Relays.  The Trojans will compete from Thursday through Saturday in 13 different events.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director