April 8, 2026

VERMILLION, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) broke two new women's records at the NCAA Division I meet, the University of South Dakota Snooze Button Classic at Lillibridge Track Complex.  Local schools including NAIA and NCAA schools competed in the event.

The 4 x 100-meter relay team of Averie Marshall, RayLee Wallis, Molli Thornton, and Amelie Steins broke a new school record.  They finished with a time of 48.71 seconds to finish third in the race.  The previous old record was set by the same relay members last season at the 115^th annual Drake Relays with a time of 48.71 seconds.

Oliviyah Thornton, who was named to the NAIA Women's Outdoor Field Athlete-of-the-Week earlier this afternoon, continues her record-breaking season.  She shattered a new shot-put record, winning the title with a 14.62 meters mark (47 feet, 11.75 inches).  Her shot-put mark is currently No. 3 in the NAIA.

Bella Maxwell also threw 11.87 meters (38 feet, 11.5 inches) in the shot-put for the Trojans, followed by Alivia Bickett with a mark of 11.26 meters (36 feet, 11.5 inches).

Lilly Young posted her personal best 44.50 meters (146 feet) in the hammer throw.  Bickett recorded 39.09 meters toss (128 feet, 3 inches).  Young threw 36.12 meters in the discus (118 feet, 6 inches).

Daynica Witzel led DSU with 37.63 meters throw (123 feet, 5 inches), placing third.  Bridget Bartling added 30.44 meters mark (99 feet, 10 inches).

Casey Olson leaped 5.16 meters (16 feet, 11.25 inches) in the long jump, followed by Witzel with 4.89 meters (16 feet, .5 inches).

Adow Thyab hit her season best 1.52 meters clearance (4 feet, 11.75 inches) in the high jump for Dakota State.

Ella Carstensen registered 10.92 meters (35 feet, 10 inches) in the triple jump for a third-place finish.  Molli Thornton added 10.44 meters leap (34 feet, 3 inches) to finish sixth.

Brooke Beaucaire posted a personal record time of 11 minutes, 51.55 seconds in the 3000-meter steeplechase, earning a runner-up honor.  Her time is the third fastest in DSU women's outdoor track & field school record book.  Kierra Miller recorded a season best time of 12:23.95 to finish fourth.

Caitlin Dyer produced a personal best time of 58.76 seconds to place fourth in the 400-meter dash for DSU.

Lindsey Roth clocked a time of 4 minutes, 57.23 seconds to place seventh in the 1500-meter run.

Steins led the Trojans with a time of 15.02 seconds to place sixth in the 100-meter hurdles.  Olson added a time of 15.78 seconds, followed by Taneaja John with a time of 16.34 seconds.

John clocked a time of 1:16.37 in the 400-meter hurdles.  Alyssa Koffler recorded the season's best time of 1:17.49.

Marshall clocked a time of 12.96 seconds in the 100-meter dash.  Bartling added a time of 13.26 seconds in the race.

Marshall finished with a time of 27.93 seconds in the 200-meter dash, followed by Bartling with a tying season best time of 28.12 seconds.

M. Thornton, Anna Schneider, Steins, and Wallis teamed up to a third-place finish in the 4 x 400-meter relay with a time of 3 minutes, 58.48 seconds.

Dakota State continues their action this weekend in the two-day Sioux City Relays.  The action begins on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Olsen Stadium on the campus of Morningside (Iowa).