March 6, 2026

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three Dakota State (S.D.) athletes were in action on the second day of the 46^th annual NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Championships Friday.  The three-day national indoor track & field meet is hosted at Alachua County Sports & Events Center at Celebration Pointe for the second straight year.

Dakota State earned another 'first' NAIA Indoor Track & Field All-America honor for the second straight day.  Oliviyah Thornton became the first Trojan women's indoor weight thrower to collect an NAIA All-America status after earning a runner-up finish behind Frontier Conference fellow Kori Nagel of Dickinson State (N.D.), who won the national title with 19.22 meters mark (63 feet, .75 inches).

She opened with 17.69 meters (58 feet, .5 inches) on her first attempt, followed by a career best and school record of 18.58 meters (60 feet, 11.5 inches) on her second attempt.  She broke her previous school record of 18.31 meters (60 feet, 1 inch) at the South Dakota Indoor Track Classic on Feb. 14.

Thornton added 17.94 meters (58 feet, 10.25 inches) and advanced to the finals for the Trojans.  She started the final round with 18.24 meters mark (59 feet, 10.25 inches) and fouled on her next attempt.  She closed the weight throw after tossing 17.94 meters (58 feet, 10.25 inches).

Bella Maxwell also competed in the weight throw for DSU.  She opened with 16.47 meters (54 feet, .5 inches) and improved to 16.69 meters (54 feet, 9.25 inches) on her second attempt.  She fouled on her final attempt and did not advance to the finals, finishing 13^th overall in the event.

After becoming the first NAIA All-America pentathlon Thursday, Amelie Steins competed in the long jump.  She kicked off with 5.35 meters leap (17 feet, 6.75 inches) on her first attempt.  She followed with 5.08 meters (16 feet, 8 inches) and finished her third attempt mark of 5.30 meters (17 feet, 4.75 inches).  She finished 24^th overall and did not advance to the final.

The Trojans increased their team score to 10 points after two days in the team standings, tied Indiana Wesleyan and Siena Heights (Mich.) for eighth place.

Dakota State wraps up the final day of the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships Saturday, with Thornton and Maxwell in the shot put at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)/11:30 a.m. (Central Time).  The championship ceremonies are set for 1 p.m. (ET)/12 p.m. (CT).  Valerija Curikova will also run in the 3000-meter run at 3 p.m. (CT)/2 p.m. (ET).