May 29, 2007

(Madison, SD) – Seven Dakota State student-athletes, four women and three men, competed at the NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships held in Fresno, CA on May 24-26.  Dakota State women’s track & field finished tied for 36th overall;  the men’s finished tied for 50th. 

On the first day of the meet, the women’s 4 x 100 relay team consisting of Bobbi Jo Dykstra, Laura Tewes, Jayna Goodroad, and Nikki Duffy placed seventh in the third heat with a time of 48.87 seconds.  The relay team did not advance to the semifinals, placing 20th overall, but they did set a new DSU school record.  The previous record was 49.33 seconds set in 1996.

Bobbi Jo Dykstra competed in the 100 meter hurdles preliminary race.  She placed fourth in the third heat with a time of 14.82 seconds, which put her 10th overall out of 20 participants in the event, and advanced her to the semifinals.  In the semifinals, Dykstra, a junior from Marion, SD, was in position to advance to finals as she fell hard in the last hurdle and finished last with a time of 33.83 seconds.  Bobbi Jo is the daughter of Brian and Linda Dykstra of Marion, SD.

In the long jump finals last Saturday, Goodroad, a senior from Brandt, SD, placed 20th overall with a jump measurement of 16 feet and 10.5 inches.  Jayna is the daughter of Darryl and Sue Goodroad of Brandt, SD.

Nikki Duffy, a senior from Oldham, SD, also ran in the 100 meter dash at the nationals meet.  In the semifinals, she finished third in the first heat with the time of 12.31 seconds and advanced to the finals.  In the finals, Duffy placed 9th with a time of 12.32 seconds.

For the second consecutive year, Laura Tewes notched the NAIA All-American honor in high jump.  She finished third with the height of 5 feet and 7 inches.  Laura is the daughter of Doug and Sally Tewes of Mayer, MN.

On the men’s side, Chris Heezen earned the NAIA All-American honor as he placed fifth in the marathon.  There were a total of 51 runners in the race.  He finished with a time of two hours, 28 minutes, and 06.08 seconds (2:28:06.08).  As a result, Heezen set a new DSU school record in men’s marathon.  Chris, a junior at Dakota State, is the son of Jerry and Peggy Heezen of Miller, SD.

Anthony Drealan, a freshman from Fulda, MN, was another Trojan representative in the men’s marathon race.  He came in 26th place with a time of 2:43:37.77.  As a result, Drealan ran the 3rd fastest time in DSU’s all-time list in marathon.  Anthony is son of Wayne and Heidi Drealan of Fudla, MN.

Eric Bauder competed in the men’s high jump at the NAIA National Championship meet but did not place.  Eric, a sophomore, is the son of Randy and Kay Bauder of Huron, SD.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State Sports Information Director
Contact:  605-256-5229 (Phone); 605-256-5138 (Fax)
E-mail:  nick.huntimer@dsu.edu