Trojans Take on Day One of NAIA Track and Field Championships
Seven Dakota State men’s athletes were in action on the first day of the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships yesterday. The three-day national outdoor track & field meet is hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.
Conner Tordsen, who was making his third straight appearance to the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, was seeded No. 4 in the hammer throw prior to Wednesday’s meet. He finished fourth in the event with a personal national meet best toss of 196 feet, 8 inches, becoming the first Trojan to gain back-to-back NAIA Outdoor Track & Field All-America hammer throw status.
It was Tordsen’s highest place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. He collected his third NAIA All-America status during his impressive career at DSU. He will compete in two more throwing events today and tomorrow.
Jacob Joachim also competed in the NAIA men’s hammer throw for the Trojans, his first NAIA Outdoor Track & Field national appearance at DSU (his second national meet overall – indoor 2023). He finished 18th with a toss of 167 feet, 5 inches, ending his collegiate track career at Dakota State.
Treshawn Roberts opened the NAIA’s decathlon in the 100-meter dash. He clocked a time of 11.50 seconds for 753 points. He followed up with a long jump leap of 20 feet, .5 inches for 610 points.
Roberts was the second-best shot putter in the third event of the decathlon for the Trojans. He tossed 43 feet, 4 inches to earn 680 points in the shot-put event. He tallied 619 points in the high jump after clearing 5 feet, 10.5 inches.
He closed the day with 53.95 seconds in the 400-meter dash for 642 points for Dakota State. Roberts totaled 3,304 points after five events in the decathlon, holding 13th place in the standings.
The DSU men’s 4×800-meter relay team, consisting of Evan Slominski, Curtis Johnson, Joshua Krull, and Cody Farland (all runners made their first NAIA outdoor track & field national meet appearance), was placed in the third heat. They finished sixth in the race with a time of 7 minutes, 38.63 seconds. Their time is the season best and third fastest in DSU men’s outdoor track & field school history.
The Trojan 4×800-meter relay team registered the eighth fastest time in the field of 26 teams, improving 18 spots after being seeded No. 24 prior to the national meet. Dakota State did not advance to the national finals. The top two relay teams in each of the heats (three total heats), followed by the next three fastest times advance to the national finals.
DSU’s time was better than Dordt, who finished ninth overall but finished second in the first heat in 7:38.86. The Trojans also defeated Marian who had the tenth fastest time in the field but finished second in the second heat in 7:38.93.
DSU is in a tie for 11th place with Montana Tech in the men’s team standings with five points each after the first day. British Columbia holds the men’s team standings with 15 points.
Dakota State continues their action on the second day of the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships today. The day kicks off at 10am as Roberts is set to compete in five remaining decathlon events, starting with the 110-meter hurdles, followed by the discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and the 1500-meter run.
Also in action Thursday are Fane Sauvakacolo in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at 1pm, Traia Hubbard in the women’s shot put at 1:30pm, Farland in the men’s 800-meter run at 1:50pm, and Tordsen in the discus throw at 4pm
