May 22, 2026

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – More history was made for Dakota State (S.D.) women's track and field team on the third and final day of the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Karl Straus Track on the campus of NCAA Division I UNC-Asheville.  The Trojans produced their second women's national champion in program history, their first-ever in the outdoor track & field season.

Three Dakota State throwers were in action on rainy, wet weather conditions at the national meet Friday.

Oliviyah Thornton competed in third different throwing events on third consecutive day for the Trojans, throwing discus Friday (hammer throw on Wednesday and shot put on Thursday).  She kicked off the semifinals round Flight 1 with 42.32 meters (138 feet, 10 inches).  She followed with 38.94 meters (127 feet, 9 inches) on her second attempt and fouled on her third attempt.

She was in the top eight after the first flight and did not advance to the final round after the second flight was completed.  Thornton finished 11^th overall with her best mark of 42.32 meters on her first attempt.

DSU concluded their action in the women's javelin event, with two throwers.  Casey Olson kicked off her first toss with another school record, throwing 46.17 meters (151 feet, 5 inches), where she led after three flights.  She also threw 42.79 meters (140 feet, 4 inches) on the second attempt and 44.52 meters (146 feet) on her third attempt.

Daynica Witzel was making her debut at the national meet as a freshman for the Trojans, opening with 39.23 meters (128 feet, 8 inches).  She improved to 41.19 meters (135 feet, 1 inch) on her second attempt, as well as 41.56 meters (136 feet, 4 inches) on her third attempt.

She was eighth after two flights and held on as the last thrower (ninth place after three flights) in to make to the national finals for DSU.

Witzel started the final round with 39.13 meters throw (128 feet, 4 inches).  Olson broke another school record for the second time on the same day, her third time this week, by throwing 46.66 meters (153 feet, 1 inch).

Witzel posted her best throw on the fifth attempt with 42.19 meters (138 feet, 5 inches) and closed with 38.40 meters mark (126 feet).  She was one place shy of producing the NAIA All-America status for the Trojans, where she finished ninth.

Olson maintained their lead from start to finish as she claimed the NAIA national champion in javelin throw.  She threw 42.55 meters (139 feet, 7 inches) on the fifth attempt and 39.43 meters (129 feet, 4 inches) on her final attempt.

Olson became the first DSU women's javelin thrower to be a national champion, as well as first women's outdoor track & field to be national champion.  She was the second Trojan individual to be a national champion in women's track & field program history, with Desa Rae Doyle as the national indoor high jump champion in 2000.  Her 46.46 meters mark is also the second best in the NAIA women's javelin this season.

It was the second straight year that Olson was named to the NAIA All-America in javelin throw.  She also posted her personal best heptathlon mark Wednesday and Thursday, finishing 10^th overall with 4,612 points.

Dakota State produced outdoor track & field national meet school records for highest place finish with 16^th place and most points scored with 19 points. 

The Trojans also produced the most All-America athletes in the same outdoor track & field national meet with three – Thornton with a runner-up finish in the hammer throw, Amelie Steins with an eighth-place finish in the heptathlon, and Olson with the national champion in the javelin.

The NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships officially conclude the 2025-26 DSU athletics season.