December 14, 2024

MITCHELL, S.D. – Two Dakota State (S.D.) women's indoor track & field athletes claimed the individual title at the Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Snow Tiger meet Saturday at DWU/Avera Sports & Wellness Complex.  Three NAIA schools from the state of South Dakota – DSU, DWU, and Mount Marty – competed in the meet.

Oliviyah Thornton highlighted the Trojans as she captured the weight throw title.  She tied the school record toss of 16.64 meters (54 feet, 7.25 inches) with Traia Hubbard in 2021.  Thornton's mark also is the NAIA 'B' provisional national qualifying mark. 

Lilly Young produced a personal record 14.23 meters weight throw toss (46 feet, 8.25 inches) to place third for DSU.  Bella Maxwell followed up with a fourth-place finish after 14.14 meters toss (47 feet, 4.75 inches), followed by Kiana Mounga with a fifth place after throwing 14.01 meters (45 feet, 11.75 inches).  Rebecca Hazlett recorded a personal best 12.40 meters (40 feet, 8.25 inches), while Aryn McIlravy threw 10.72 meters (35 feet, 2 inches).

Thornton added the seventh best shot-put toss after recording 12.32 meters (40 feet, 5 inches) to earn the runner up honor for Dakota State.  Maxwell was third with 11.51 meters mark (37 feet, 9.25 inches), followed by Casey Olson with 10.96 meters toss (35 feet, 11.5 inches) to finish fourth.  Alivia Bickett was fifth with 10.79 meters (35 feet, 5 inches), followed by Young with a personal record 10.30 meters toss (33 feet, 9.5 inches).

Lindsey Roth captured the 1000-meter run title with a time of three minutes, 7.24 seconds for the Trojans.  Kierra Miller followed up with a runner-up honor with a time of 3 minutes, 14.72 seconds.

Raylee Wallis clocked a personal record time of 8.12 seconds in the 60-meter dash prelims, placing third.  Averie Marshall added 8.33 seconds for a sixth-place finish, followed by Bridget Bartling with a season best, 8.47 seconds for eighth place.  All three sprinters advanced to the finals.

Wallis also tied her personal record time of 8.12 seconds to place third in the 60-meter dash finals.  Marshall finished seventh in 8.44 seconds, followed by Bartling eighth with 8.52 seconds.

Wallis clocked a career best 26.49 seconds to finish third in the 200-meter dash for Dakota State.  Shakiera Gronenthal added seventh place in 30.71 seconds.

Bethany Lawson collected a runner-up honor in the 400-meter dash, clocking a time of 1:05.10.  Alyssa Koffler produced a season-best 1:12.47 to place eighth.

Olson registered a time of 10.12 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles prelims and advanced to the finals.  She was fourth in the finals after sparking a personal record time of 10.06 seconds.  She was also fourth in the high jump after clearing 1.37 meters (4 feet, 6 inches), and added a personal record.4.75 meters (15 feet, 7 inches) in the long jump. 

Marshall posted 4.45 meters (14 feet, 7.25 inches) to place in the long jump for DSU.

Dakota State heads into their Christmas break and returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 11 as they head to Sioux Center, Iowa, for the Dordt (Iowa) Open.