February 7, 2026

LINCOLN, Neb., and MITCHELL, S.D. – Three Dakota State (S.D.) women's indoor track & field athletes made their mark in the school record book's top five Saturday in two different meets.  The Trojans competed on the second day of the NCAA Division I meet, the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational at Bob Devaney Center on the campus of University of Nebraska.  DSU also competed in the Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Alumni Meet at DWU/Avera Sports and Wellness Center.

At the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, the Trojans added another thrower to the national qualifying list, highlighted by Bella Maxwell's NAIA 'B' provisional mark of 13.74 meters (45 feet, 1 inch).  She placed 10^th in the event, which featured athletes from NCAA Division I to NAIA schools.  Her mark is No. 3 best in school history and currently in the NAIA's Top 10 shot put marks.

Oliviyah Thornton, which already qualified for the national in both throwing events, threw the NAIA 'B' mark of 13.45 meters (44 feet, 1.5 inches) to place 11^th.

Anna Schneider clocked a personal record time of 2 minutes, 19.02 seconds in the 800-meter run for Dakota State.  Her time is the third fastest in DSU women's indoor track & field history.  Lindsey Roth added a time of 2 minutes, 25.75 seconds in the race.

Valerija Curikova led Dakota State with an eighth-place finish in the 3000-meter run.  She registered a career best time of 10 minutes, 12.15 seconds, which is the second fastest time in school history.

The remaining athletes competed at the DWU Alumni Meet, highlighted with the high jump title by Adow Thyab. She cleared the height of 1.50 meters (4 feet, 11 inches).  Alyssa Koffler also cleared the height of 1.50 meters but finished as a runner-up.

Taneaja John finished second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.67 seconds for the Trojans.  Koffler added a fifth-place finish in 10.87 seconds.  John finished fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 28.73 seconds.

Daynica Witzel leaped 4.82 meters (15 feet, 9.75 inches) to place third in the long jump.  She also clocked a personal record time of 8.51 seconds in the 60-meter dash to place fifth.

Kiana Mounga led DSU with a runner-up honor in the weight throw, tossing 14.76 meters (48 feet, 5.25 inches).  Lilly Young followed up with a third-place finish with 13.39 meters mark (43 feet, 11.25 inches), followed by Aaliyah Bertelsen fourth with 13.16 meters (43 feet, 2.25 inches).  Alivia Bickett was seventh after throwing 12.52 meters (41 feet, 1 inch).  Emily Dvorak recorded 11.84 meters mark (38 feet, 10.25 inches), McKenna McIlravy with a personal record 11.69 meters (38 feet, 4.25 inches) and Hadley Hollenbeck with a personal best 10.83 meters (35 feet, 6.5 inches).

Bickett earned a season best 11.15 meters (36 feet, 7 inches) mark in the shot put, finishing fourth for the Trojans.  Hollenbeck followed up with a fifth-place finish with 10.96 meters mark (35 feet, 11.5 inches).  Dvorak posted a personal record 10.05 meters toss (32 feet, 11.75 inches), while Bertelsen tossed 8.29 meters (27 feet, 2.5 inches).

Dakota State heads to their final regular season indoor track & field meets next weekend.  The Trojans compete in the two-day NCAA Division I South Dakota State Indoor Classic Friday and next Saturday at Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings.  DSU will also compete in the Mount Marty (S.D.) Last Chance meet Friday in Yankton.