May 21, 2026

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Dakota State (S.D.) collected five NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field All-America athletes on the second day of the three-day national meet at Karl Straus Field Thursday, on the campus of NCAA Division I UNC-Asheville.  The Trojans matched the number of NAIA All-America athletes since 2013 outdoor track & field national meet (D'Artist Williams, Mark Moeller, Seth Boomsma, and Stacey Berg in the 4 x 100-meter relay, along with Nic Penning in the marathon – DSU collected six total All-America status that same national meet with Boomsma earning the 100-meter dash All-America status).

The NAIA decathlon athletes faced a pair of weather delays during the second day of the national meet, where they began the competition in the morning and completed the final event late Thursday evening.

Tysen Grinde opened the day in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 15.73 seconds for 763 points.  He followed up with a personal best, 38.26 meters (125 feet, 6 inches) mark in the discus, climbing up to sixth place in the decathlon standings before the pole vault was halted due to weather.

The pole vault returned to action as Grinde tied his personal best 4.55 meters clearance (14 feet, 11 inches) for 775 points, remaining in sixth place in the standings.  His pole vault is the second-best mark in the DSU men's outdoor track & field school record book.

Grinde scored 555 points in the javelin throw after tossing 47.74 meters (156 feet, 7 inches) for the Trojans.

The final event of the decathlon, the 1500-meter run, was on hold until after the completion of the women's 10,000-meter run.  Prior to that event, the Trojan men's 4 x 800-meter relay team competed in the national finals.

Nolan Slominski kicked off the 4 x 800-meter relay with a time of 1 minute, 54.43 seconds in the first 800-meters.  He handed the baton to Cody Farland for the second 800-meters run.  He finished with a time of 1 minute, 52.20 seconds.

Dakota State moved into third place in the middle of 4 x 800-meter relay as Farland handed the baton to Franklin Johns for the third 800-meters.  Johns registered a time of 1 minute, 51.86 seconds and gave the baton to Tyler Nicke for the final 800-meters in the relay.

Nicke registered a time of 1 minute, 53.64 seconds in the final 800-meters relay.  After setting the school record Thursday evening, Dakota State placed fourth with a team time of 7 minutes, 32.13 seconds.  The Trojans scored five points toward their team standings.

It was the Trojans' first 4 x 800-meter relay NAIA All-American since 2010 outdoor track & field national meet (Andy Coy, Matt Fideler, Cody Foreman, and Tyler Van Peursem).

Thursday's 4 x 800-meter relay was the final college career for Farland, where he collected four total NAIA All-America status (twice during 2024 indoor track nationals in the 4 x 800-meter relay and 1-mile run, as well as the 2023 outdoor track nationals in 800-meter run).  He also had collected numerous All-Conference awards, including most valuable athletes' awards at DSU.

The decathlon's 1500-meter run concluded Trojans' second day of the national meet.  Grinde produced a personal record time of 4 minutes, 38.75 seconds to score 688 points.

As a result, Grinde rose from early 14^th place after the first three events on the first day to fourth place overall on the second day in the NAIA decathlon standings.  He scored a career best 6,982 points to collect his second straight NAIA Outdoor Track & Field decathlon All-America status, his fourth overall NAIA All-American at DSU (including this past winter heptathlon and high jump All-America honors).

Grinde leaped over Mark Lawin of Cumberlands (Ky.) for fourth place by four points (Grinde – 6,982 points to Lawin with 6,978 points).

Grinde's decathlon total is the second most in the DSU men's outdoor track & field school record, behind Treshawn Roberts with 7,172 points in 2024.

Dakota State is in a three-way tie for fourth in the NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships team standings with Cornerstone (Mich.) and Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio), with 16 points each after nine events scored. 

The NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships wrap up on Friday.  The Trojans have one athlete remaining on the final day with Oliver Tordsen in the discus at 9 a.m. (Eastern Time)/8 a.m. (Central Time).