February 14, 2026

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) added another national qualifier in the indoor track & field regular season meet Saturday at Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex, hosted by NCAA Division I South Dakota State Indoor Classic.  Numerous athletes from all collegiate levels from NCAA Division I to NAIA schools competed in the meet.

The Trojans also produced personal records or season bests during the meet.

Lukus Mentele added to the DSU's national qualifiers list as he tied his personal record 15.97 meters toss in the shot put.  Hs shot put mark is the NAIA 'B' provisional qualifying mark and placed fifth in the event.  Oliver Tordsen followed up with a sixth-place finish after throwing 15.69 meters (51 feet, 5.75 inches).  Dylan Johnasen tossed 14.25 meters (46 feet, 9 inches) and Keegan Hensley with 13.06 meters (42 feet, 10.25 inches).

Tain Bingham tied his personal record in the weight throw, recording 16.41 meters (53 feet, 10.25 inches) to finish 10^th.  Tordsen was 12^th after throwing 16.11 meters (52 feet, 10.25 inches).  Luke Borowicz recorded 15.41 meters (50 feet, 6.75 inches) and Hensley with 13.64 meters toss (44 feet, 9 inches).

Jagger Lombard led the Trojans with under 7 seconds in the 60-meter dash qualifying, recording a time of 6.99 seconds.  Talon George clocked a time of 7.20 seconds, followed by Weston Frangenberg with 7.27 seconds, David Sheets with 7.58 seconds, and Connor Schmidt with 7.67 seconds.

Lukas Bennett clocked a time of 7.03 seconds in the 60-meter dash prelims, while Lombard added 7.04 seconds.

Bennett led Dakota State with a season best 22.20 seconds in the 200-meter dash, placing 11^th in the race.  Lombard added a season best 22.49 seconds, Frangenberg with a personal record 23.25 seconds, Ben Witt with a season best 23.72 seconds, George with a personal record 23.88 seconds, Sheets with a season best 24.34 seconds, and Schmidt with 24.82 seconds.

Franklin Johns hit under 50 seconds in the 400-meter dash, recording a career best 49.96 seconds.  Witt added a season best time of 53.34 seconds and Miles Eide added a time of 55.36 seconds.  Eide added a time of 9.22 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.

Tyler Nicke produced a personal record time of 1 minute, 22.49 seconds to place 11^th in the 600-meter run.

Dawson Miller clocked a season best time of 1 minute, 59.82 seconds in the 800-meter run, finishing 11^th.  Holden added a season best time of 2:00.85.  Kaiden Akey finished the race in 2:14.34.

Solomon Carter led the Trojans in the 1-mile run with a season best time of 4:28.91.  Cody Farland added 4:29.05, followed by Lane Henrichs in 4:33.77.  Blake Schmiedt had a season best time of 4:40.33 and David Brack with a personal record 4:55.25.

Dakota State returns to Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex next weekend as they prepare for the inaugural Frontier Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.  The first events are set for next Saturday at 5 p.m. and continue next Sunday at 11 a.m. in Brookings.