March 30, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was able to pick up a 'last minute' outdoor track & field home meet to their 2026 schedule with favorable warm weather conditions Monday afternoon at Dan Beacom Track & Field.  The Trojans competed with NCAA Division I South Dakota State in the Steinhorn/Beacom Twilight meet, highlighted by a pair of new facilities records along with national qualifying marks in the throwing events.

Oliviyah Thornton led DSU with a pair of new facility records.  She threw her career best 56.04 meters (183 feet, 10 inches) to win the hammer throw, which is new school record.  Her mark is also the NAIA 'A' automatic mark and currently ranked No. 1 in the NAIA women's hammer throw.  She also broke the Dan Beacom Track & Field's facility record of 50.16 meters (164 feet, 7 inches) by Jenna Gleason of Dordt (Iowa) during the DSU Twilight meet in 2024.

Bella Maxwell added a season best 49.22 meters (161 feet, 5 inches) to place third in the hammer throw.  Alivia Bickett posted a personal best 45.62 meters (149 feet, 8 inches), followed by Kiana Mounga with a season beset 45.20 meters toss (148 feet, 3 inches).  Aaliyah Bertelsen threw 43.59 meters (143 feet) for the Trojans.

Thornton produced another facility record in the shot put for Dakota State, winning the title by improving her season best 14.30 meters (46 feet, 11 inches.  Her shot put mark is a new outdoor school record and third best in the NAIA women's shot put (improved to NAIA 'A' automatic mark).  Thornton broke the previous facility record of 13.65 meters (44 feet, 9.5 inches) by Hope Wagner of Briar Cliff (Iowa) during the 2024 DSU Twilight meet. 

Maxwell threw a season best 13 meters (42 feet, 8 inches) to place fourth in the shot put.  Bickett followed up with a season best 11.82 meters (38 feet, 9.5 inches) to place fifth, Hadley Hollenbeck with 11.08 meters toss (36 feet, 4.25 inches), and Emily Dvorak 9.90 meters (32 feet, 5.75 inches).

Thornton was third in the discus with 41.10 meters (134 feet, 10 inches), followed by Young fifth with 37.64 meters (123 feet, 6 inches).  Hollenbeck threw 34.02 meters (111 feet, 7 inches), and Dvorak 29.91 meters (98 feet, 1 inch).

Daynica Witzel captured her second straight javelin throw title, inching closer to NAIA 'A' automatic qualifying mark for Dakota State.  She improved her personal best 42.20 meters (138 feet, 5 inches), establishing a new DSU school record previously held by Casey Olson with 41.97 meters (137 feet, 8 inches) last season. 

Amelie Steins earned a personal record 33.77 meters (110 feet, 9 inches) to finish fourth in the javelin throw, followed by Bridget Bartling with 32.50 meters (106 feet, 7 inches) for a fifth-place finish.

Steins cleared the height of 1.58 meters (5 feet, 2.25 inches) in high jump.  Olson and Adow Thyab both cleared the height of 1.50 meters (4 feet, 11 inches), while Alyssa Koffler cleared the height of 1.45 meters (4 feet, 9 inches).  Koffler also finished with a time of 1 minute, 19.93 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles.

Olson won the long jump title after leaping 5.08 meters (16 feet, 8 inches) for DSU.  Molli Thornton recorded 10.82 meters leap (35 feet, 6 inches) in the triple jump.

Steins clocked a personal best time of 57.92 seconds to place fifth in the 400-meter dash.  Her time is the second fastest in the DSU women's outdoor 400-meter dash history.  Anna Schneider also hit her career best 59.94 seconds in the race.  M. Thornton registered a time of 1:00.67, followed by Bethany Lawson in 1:04.01.

Taneaja John clocked a personal record 15.89 seconds to finish second in the 100-meter hurdles for Dakota State.  Olson also added personal record time of 16.20 seconds.

Averie Marshall recorded 12.76 seconds in the 100-meter dash.  Bartling finished with a time of 13.16 seconds.

Lindsey Roth posted a season best time of 2 minutes, 28.03 seconds to win the 800-meter run title.  Kierra Miller finished with a time of 2:32.83. 

Dakota State wrapped up the meet with the 4 x 400-meter relay, consisting of Wallis, John, Marshall, and Bartling.  They posted a time of 4 minutes, 14.62 seconds.

DSU's next scheduled meet is Friday and Saturday in the NCAA Division I University of South Dakota Early Bird Invitational.  Stay tuned to the dsuathletics.com for a potential schedule change due to poor weather forecast for this coming week.

Dakota State will compete in the Sioux City Relays, hosted by Morningside (Iowa), next weekend at Olsen Stadium.