February 21, 2026
BROOKINGS, S.D. –- The first day of the 2026 Frontier Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships sets up as a tightly contested finish Saturday evening at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex. With the inaugural indoor conference title on the line, Dakota State (S.D.) leads a crowded women's team race after seven events scored.
The Trojans carry a slim advantage with 60 points, just ahead of Dickinson State (N.D.) with 54 points and Montana Tech with 52 points, with Bismarck State (N.D.) 37 points and Carroll 31 points still within striking distance if finals break their way.
The top eight place finishers and the top six relays' finishers are scored toward to the team standings. All events are set as the first conference meet records.
The Trojans will look to build off a strong opening day that included a key sprint win from
Amelie Steins, who took the 400-meter dash with a career best time of 59.04 seconds (fourth fastest in the DSU women's indoor track & field 400-meter dash).
RayLee Wallis was fourth after clocking a time of 59.36 seconds.
Molli Thornton added a season best time of 1:00.37 to place eighth.
Bethany Lawson hit a season best time of 1:02.58 and
Anna Schneider finished with a time of 1:02.77.
Steins also hit a time of 9.00 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles prelims, placing third overall.
Casey Olson recorded a time of 9.62 seconds, while
Taneaja John added a time of 9.82 seconds.
Alyssa Koffler recorded a time of 10.74 seconds. Steins will be competing in Sunday's 60-meter hurdles finals.
Steins also placed third in the 60-meter dash prelims with a time of 7.91 seconds for the Trojans. M. Thornton clocked a time of 8.05 seconds,
Averie Marshall in 8.17 seconds, and
Bridget Bartling in 8.31 seconds. Steins will run in the 60-meter dash finals Sunday.
Dakota State also highlighted the weight throw with a runner-up and third place finishes.
Oliviyah Thornton threw 18.10 meters (59 feet, 4.75 inches) and placed second.
Bella Maxwell added another national qualifying event to the list after tossing a personal record 17.05 meters (55 feet, 11.25 inches). Both throwers hit national qualifying standards, where Maxwell's toss is currently No. 15 in the NAIA.
Valerija Curikova started the running event with a personal record 5,000-meter run time of 18 minutes, 17.93 seconds. She finished second in the race, producing the third fastest time in the school record book.
Brooke Beaucaire added sixth place with a time of 18:40.61.
Madelyn Sylva posted a career best time of 19 minutes, 27.24 seconds.
Dakota State's 4 x 800-meter relay of Curikova, Beaucaire,
Lindsey Roth, and Schneider finished fourth with a season best time of 9 minutes, 36.11 seconds. Their time is the second fastest time in school history.
The day closed with the long jump, led by Olson with 4.98 meters mark (16 feet, 4.25 inches) and M. Thornton with 4.89 meters leap (16 feet, .5 inches).
Daynica Witzel added 4.74 meters (15 feet, 6.75 inches).
The second day of the conference meet continues Sunday at 11 a.m. (Central Time). Awards presentation will be held after the conclusion of the meet. Follow the indoor track & field conference meet via Frontier Conference's YouTube page and live results on Dakota Timing (also available on Frontier Conference Championship page).
