April 26, 2025

DES MOINES, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) women's team highlighted a 'Top 5' place finisher at the 115^th Drake Relays at Bulldog Stadium Saturday.  The Trojans finished their three-day outdoor track & field meet with three different events.

The Trojans kicked off with the distance medley relay during the morning session.  Kierra Miller started with the 1200-meters with a time of 3 minutes, 58.75 seconds.  She passed the baton to Ella Carstensen, where she ran the 400-meters leg with a time of 1:03.17.

Anna Schnieder recorded a time of 2:23.15 in the 800-meters, while Lindsey Roth finished with the final leg in the 1600-meters time of 5:21.02.

DSU finished the distance medley relay time of 12 minutes, 46.08 seconds, placing 11^th overall.  Their time is the second fastest time in school history, surpassing the 2010 relay team of Stephanie Warnke, Brandi Gau, Brittany Young, and Samantha Warnke with a time of 12:55.48.

Casey Olson competed in the javelin during the afternoon session for Dakota State.  She began her first attempt with a 39.82 meters mark (130 feet, 8 inches).  She improved her mark to 40.01 meters (131 feet, 1 inch) on her second attempt.  She fouled on her third attempt; however, she advanced to the final round for three more attempts.

Olson registered a mark of 36.63 meters (120 feet, 2 inches) on her fourth throw for DSU.  She established a new school and personal records of 41.27 meters (135 feet 4, inches), improving her NAIA 'B' provisional qualifying mark.  She fouled on her final attempt.

Olson was the top NAIA place finisher in the 21-throwers field, finishing fourth overall for the Trojans.  The field features athletes from NCAA Division I to NCAA Division III schools.

The final event at the Drake Relays was the hammer throw by Oliviyah Thornton.  She tossed 47.16 meters (156 feet, 9 inches) on her first attempt.  She improved to her season best 51.72 meters (169 feet, 8 inches) on her second attempt, producing NAIA B' provisional qualifying time.  She threw 49.43 meters (162 feet, 2 inches) on her attempt.

Thornton did not advance to the finals, where she finished 16^th overall.  She was the top NAIA and North Star Athletic Association finisher in the hammer throw.

Dakota State heads to their final week of regular season action next week with a pair of outdoor track & field meets.  The Trojans return to Mankato, Minn., for the fourth time this season Wednesday in the Maverick Open #1, hosted by NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato.

DSU heads to Vermillion, S.D., next Friday and Saturday for the NCAA Division I meet, the University of South Dakota Tune Up.