February 4, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) junior Oliviyah Thornton of Garretson, S.D., has been named the Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week after a strong performance that featured two event titles and a record-setting performance at the Concordia (Neb.) Track & Field Classic on Jan. 31, 2026.

Thornton highlighted her day in the weight throw, where she delivered a meet-winning mark of 17.68 meters (58 feet, 0.25 inches) to take first place in a nine-athlete field. The throw not only improved her personal best but also reset the Dakota State school record and met the NAIA "A" automatic qualifying standard. Her 17.68-meter effort currently ranks fifth in the NAIA.

She followed that up with another victory in the shot put, again finishing first among nine competitors. Thornton recorded a top throw of 13.97 meters (45 feet, 10 inches), reaching the NAIA "B" standard and completing a sweep of the meet's top-seeded throwing events.

It was the first time in DSU women's indoor track & field program history to record the NAIA Indoor Field Athlete-of-the-Week.

Dakota State continues their busy indoor track & field schedule Saturday in two different meets.  The Trojans head to Mitchell, S.D., for the Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Alumni Meet.  DSU also will send some athletes to the NCAA Division I meet, the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational hosted by NCAA Division I Nebraska in Lincoln.