March 13, 2007

(Madison, SD) – On March 8th through March 10th, five Dakota State University track and field athletes participated in the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships.  The championship meet was held in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Nikki Duffy, 2007 DAC All-Conference and a senior from Oldham, SD, finished 3rd in her preliminary heat of the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.93 seconds and did not advance to the semifinals.  She also ran in the 200 meter dash and finished 6th in her prelims heat at 26.22 seconds.  Duffy did not advance to the NAIA semifinals, but set a new DSU school record in the 200 meter dash.  She is the daughter of Greg and Nila Duffy.

Bobbi Jo Dykstra, 2007 DAC All-Conference and a junior from Marion, SD, won her preliminary heat in 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.10.  She advanced to the semifinals and finished 4th in her semifinals heat with a time of 9.02.  Overall, she was one place lower in qualifying to the finals (top 6 place finish advances to the finals).  She finished in 7th place.  Dykstra missed being named to 2007 NAIA All-American by just one hundredth of a second.  She is the daughter of Brian and Linda Dykstra.

DSU Women’s Track and Field Head Coach Bart Gray was impressed with Duffy’s and Dykstra’s performances at the NAIA National Indoor Track & Field Championships.  “Nikki and Bobbi Jo ran extremely well for the level of the competition here,” stated Gray.  “Anytime you can go to the national meet and equal or better the performance that you entered the meet with, you have done a great job.  Both of these women ran very competitive races and their performances showed it.  They will have a few days off now, but these performances at indoor nationals should set them up to have a great outdoor season.”

Brian Melvin, a senior from Bellevue, NE, ran in the 60 meter dash and finished 4th in his preliminary heat with a time of 7.18 seconds.  He did not qualify to the semifinals.  He is the son of Anthony and Carmella Melvin.

Toby Ball, a senior from Stromsburg, NE, participated in the 60 meter hurdles at the NAIA National Indoor Track & Field.  He finished 4th in this preliminary heat and did not qualify to the semifinals.  Ball finished with a time of 8.95 seconds.  He is the son of Jeff and Teresa Ball.

Chris Heezen, a junior from Miller, SD, ran in the 3000 meter run.  He placed 5th in his preliminary heat and did not qualify to the semifinals.  Heezen finished with a time of 8:54.38, his personal best at Dakota State.  He is the son of Jerry and Peggy Heezen.

The Trojans will begin their outdoor track and field season on March 31st, 2007 as they will be hosting the Trojan Invitational.  The meet will be held at the DSU Trojan Field with the first event starting at 12:00 pm.