April 25, 2026

DES MOINES, Iowa and ST PETER, Minn. – Dakota State (S.D.) concluded their busiest outdoor track & field week Saturday, competing at two different meets.  Three throwers competed on the final day of the 116^th annual Drake Relays at Bulldog Stadium, while others competed at the Drake Alternative meet held at Gustie Soccer Field/Track Complex on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.).

DSU highlighted with a new school record at the Drake Alternative, as well as winning three event titles.

Drake Relays

Casey Olson led the Trojans with 40.24 meters mark (132 feet) in the javelin.  Daynica Witzel followed up with 38.78 meters mark (127 feet, 3 inches). 

Oliviyah Thornton threw the NAIA 'B' standard of 51.19 meters (167 feet, 11 inches) in the hammer throw for DSU.

Drake Alternative

Caitlin Dyer posted a personal record and school record time of 2 minutes, 15.47 seconds to win the 800-meter run for Dakota State.  She broke a 16-year-old school record held by Brittany Young with a time of 2 minutes, 15.56 seconds in 2010.  Kierra Miller added a career best time of 2:28.71 to place seventh.

Molli Thornton captured the 200-meter dash title with a season best time of 25.95 seconds for the Trojans.  Bridget Bartling added a time of 27.49 seconds.

Bartling clocked a time of 13.15 seconds in the 100-meter dash, followed by Natalie Stoks with a personal record time of 13.65 seconds.

Ella Carstensen registered a personal record time of 1 minute, 8.34 seconds to win the 400-meter hurdles for DSU.  Taneaja John recorded a personal best time of 1:14.97 to place fifth.

John posted a time of 16.22 seconds to finish fifth in the 100-meter hurdles.  Alyssa Koffler finished with a time of 18.12 seconds.

M. Thornton leaped 10.64 meters (34 feet, 11 inches) to place fifth in the triple jump.  Carstensen recorded 10.55 meters mark (34 feet, 7.5 inches) to finish seventh.

A pair of DSU athletes collected a runner-up finish, led by Adow Thyab with a season best 1.60 meters (5 feet, 3 inches) clearance in the high jump.

RayLee Wallis clocked a time of 59.86 seconds to place second in the 400-meter dash.

Brooke Beaucaire recorded a time of 5:10.74 in the 1500-meter run, followed by Madelyn Sylva with a season best time of 5 minutes, 20.97 seconds.

Hadley Hollenbeck threw 32.28 meters (105 feet, 11 inches) in the discus for the Trojans.  Emily Dvorak added 30.53 meters (100 feet, 2 inches).  She also tossed 30.48 meters (100 feet) in the hammer throw).

Hollenbeck threw 11.02 meters (36 feet, 2 inches) in the shot-put.  Dvorak tossed 9.30 meters (30 feet, 6.25 inches). 

Up Next

Dakota State is preparing for the 2-day Frontier Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship next weekend.  The conference meet takes place at Biesiot Activities Center in Dickinson, N.D, hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.).  First event is set for 1:30 p.m. (Central Time)/12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Saturday, May 2, with the javelin.