April 8, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University outdoor track & field teams prepare for two different meets this week, adjusting to coordinate with Mother Nature weather conditions.  The Trojans head to Vermillion, S.D., for the University of South Dakota Snooze Button meet at Lillibridge Track Complex (N University Ave.).

Dakota State continues their action in the Sioux City Relays on Friday and Saturday, hosted at Olsen Stadium (1501 Morningside Ave.) by Morningside (Iowa).

Schedule changes this week

• The University of South Dakota Early Bird meet scheduled for April 3-4 was canceled due to cold weather.
• Dakota State was originally scheduled to host The Buzz Stevenson Twilight meet Wednesday (today) but was postponed due to high winds in the forecast.
• Instead, DSU heads to Vermillion, S.D., Wednesday (today) for the USD Snooze Button Classic.  The first events kick off at 1:30 p.m. with the men's hammer throw and women's shot put.  The running events begin at 2:30 p.m. with the 4 x 100-meter relay and wraps up at 7 p.m. with the 5000-meter run.
• The annual Sioux City Relays start Friday at 10:30 a.m. with the women's hammer throw and Cornie Wassink men's shot put.  The running events will start at 2:30 p.m. with the Delbert Christensen women's 5000-meter run.
• The Sioux City Relays continue Saturday at 9 a.m. with the women's javelin throw. 

O. Thornton collects NAIA and Frontier Women's Outdoor Field Athlete-of-the-Week awards

• Oliviyah Thornton delivered a statement performance in her outdoor home season debut to earn NAIA and Frontier Conference Women's Field Athlete-of-the-Week honors.
• Competing at the Steinborn/Beacom Twilight on March 30, she turned the home opener at Dan Beacom Track & Field into a record-breaking showcase.
• O. Thornton produced a career-best 56.04 meters (183 feet, 10 inches) to win the hammer throw in the field 10 athletes, along with NCAA Division I South Dakota State.
• Her hammer throw mark met the NAIA 'A' automatic qualifying standard and currently stands as the top mark in the NAIA this season.
• She added a shot-put title with 14.30 meters mark (46 feet, 11 inches) in a seven-athlete field, again hitting an NAIA 'A' standard.That throw ranks No. 3 in the NAIA.
• Both her hammer throw and shot-put were facility and DSU school records.
• O. Thornton added a third-place finish in the discus with a throw of 41.10 meters (134 feet, 10 inches).

Steinborn/Beacom Twilight Meet Recap

• Dakota State was able to pick up a 'last minute' outdoor track & field home meet to their 2026 schedule on March 30.The Trojans competed with NCAA Division I South Dakota State in the Steinborn/Beacom Twilight meet.
• Numerous personal records had been set by the women's squad, highlighted by Oliviyah Thornton's marks in the hammer throws and shot-put.
• Daynica Witzel captured her second straight javelin throw title, inching closer to NAIA 'A' automatic qualifying mark.She improved to her personal best 42.20 meters 9138 feet, 5 inches), which is also a new DSU school record.
• Amelie Steins posted three personal records in the meet in the javelin throw, high jump and 400-meter dash.
• DSU men's team claimed three event titles in their home opener.
• Oliver Tordsen won the shot-put title after tossing 15.80 meters (51 feet, 10 inches).
• Tyler Nicke won the 800-meter run title in 1:55.98, edging a runner from South Dakota State.
• DSU also won the 4 x 400-meter relay title, consisting of Lukas Bennett, Franklin Johns, Ben Witt, and Weston Frangenberg with a time of 3:26.67.

2026 Dakota State University Trojan Outdoor Track & Field Top Marks
 

Women's	Events	Men's
RayLee Wallis – 12.52 seconds	100-meter dash	Jagger Lombard – 10.65 seconds
Molli Thornton – 26.01 seconds	200-meter dash	Lukas Bennett – 21.91 seconds
Amelie Steins – 57.92 seconds	400-meter dash	Franklin Johns – 49.67 seconds
Anna Schneider – 2:21.96	800-meter run	Tyler Nicke – 1:55.98
Valerija Curikova – 4:52.65	1500-meter run	Tyler Nicke – 4:18.99
N/A	5000-meter run	N/A
N/A	10,000-meter run	N/A
Amelie Steins - 14.46 seconds	100-/110-meter hurdles	Bergen Irey – 18.44 seconds
Alyssa Koffler – 1:19.93	400-meter hurdles	N/A
Kierra Miller – 12:51.63	3000-meter steeplechase	N/A
N/A	4 x 100-meter relay	N/A
Amelie Steins, Anna Schneider, Molli Thornton, RayLee Wallis – 3:56.23	4 x 400-meter relay	Lukas Bennett, Franklin Johns, Ben Witt, Weston Frangenberg – 3:26.27
N/A	4 x 800-meter relay	N/A
N/A	Sprint Medley Relay	N/A
N/A	Distance Medley Relay	N/A
Amelie Steins – 1.58 meters	High Jump	Brock Krueger – 1.86 meters
N/A	Pole Vault	Tysen Grinde – 4.35 meters
Amelie Steins – 5.78 meters	Long Jump	Trevor Heinz – 6.90 meters
Molli Thornton – 10.82 meters	Triple Jump	Brock Krueger – 13.40 meters
Oliviyah Thornton – 14.30 meters	Shot Put	Oliver Tordsen – 15.80 meters
Oliviyah Thornton – 44.66 meters	Discus	Oliver Tordsen – 54.10 meters
Oliviyah Thornton – 56.04 meters	Hammer Throw	Zachary Haugen – 57.78 meters
Daynica Witzel – 42.20 meters	Javelin	Kolter Simon – 45.08 meters
N/A	Heptathlon/Decathlon	N/A

 
 2026 Dakota State University NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Qualifiers list
 

Athlete	Event	NAIA Standard	Where/When Qualifying Mark Set
Amelie Steins	Long Jump	B Provisional	5.78 meters (18 feet, 11.75 inches) Central Methodist (Mo.) Open – March 21
Oliviyah Thornton	Shot Put	B Provisional	14.30 meters (46 feet, 11 inches) Steinborn/Beacom Twilight Meet – March 30
Oliver Tordsen	Discus	A Automatic	54.10 meters (177 feet, 6 inches) Wayne State (Neb.) Wildcat Classic – March 27
Zachary Haugen	Hammer Throw	B Provisional	57.78 meters (189 feet, 7 inches) Wayne State (Neb.) Wildcat Classic – March 27
Oliviyah Thornton	Hammer Throw	A Automatic	56.04 meters (183 feet, 10 inches) Steinborn/Beacom Twilight Meet – March 30
Daynica Witzel	Javelin Throw	B Provisional	42.20 meters (138 feet, 5 inches) Steinborn/Beacom Twilight meet – March 30