April 16, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) captured a women's event title to go along with a pair of NAIA 'B' qualifying mark throws Thursday afternoon on the first day of the Red Raider Open. The two-day outdoor track & field meet is being hosted by Northwestern (Iowa) at De Valois Stadium.
Daynica Witzel won her third javelin title this season for the Trojans, throwing 40.34 meters (132 feet, 4 inches).
Bridget Bartling was eighth after throwing 31.69 meters (103 feet, 11 inches).
DSU added a pair of NAIA 'B' throwing marks in the hammer, led by
Bella Maxwell who placed third. She improved her personal record 53.13 meters (174 feet, 3 inches).
Oliviyah Thornton followed up with fourth place with 53.09 meters mark (174 feet, 2 inches).
Lilly Young hit her career best 48.44 meters (158 feet, 11 inches) to finish fifth in the hammer throw for DSU. Alivia Bicket tossed 45.33 meters (148 feet, 8 inches) to place ninth.
Aaliyah Bertelsen registered 41.14 meters (134 feet, 11 inches),
Hadley Hollenbeck added 36.07 meters (118 feet, 4 inches), and
Emily Dvorak produced personal record 34.01 meters (111 feet, 7 inches).
Brooke Beaucaire closed the day with a sixth-place finish in the 5000-meter run, clocking a time of 19 minutes, 29.47 seconds.
Dakota State continues their action on the second day of the Red Raider Open. First events get underway at 11 a.m.
