February 22, 2026
BROOKINGS, S.D. — Dickinson State (N.D.) overtook the lead over Carroll (Mont.) on the final day of the 2026 Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex. There were several lead changes during Sunday's session, with the Blue Hawks pulling away late to claim the first-ever Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field title.

Dickinson State compiled 134.5 points to hold off Dakota State (116 points) and Montana Tech (115 points) and Bismarck State (N.D.) fourth with 103 points. Carroll was fifth with 87.5 points, followed by Rocky Mountain (Mont.) sixth with 84 points.

Field events and vertical jumps played a central role in Dickinson State’s climb to the top. Ty Leischner cleared a personal record 4.75 meters (15 feet, 7 inches) to win the pole vault.

Dickinson State also benefited from a deep men’s field unit across the board. The Blue Hawks stacked points in the horizontal and vertical jumps, complementing Leischner’s pole vault victory and Kohbe Smith’s long jump win on Saturday with a balanced scoring effort that ultimately separated them from Dakota State and Montana Tech in a crowded men’s race.

Nicolo Lancini of Montana Tech captured the triple jump title after leaping 14.51 meters (47 feet, 7.25 inches), followed by a pair of Dickinson State place finishers by Smith (2nd place with 14.04 meters - 46 feet, .75 inches) and Ethan Schiller (3rd place with 13.79 meters - 45 feet, 3 inches).

Montana Tech found its biggest impact in the throws and relays. Cade VanVleet won the men’s shot put with a personal record mark of 17.78 meters (58 feet, 4 inches), one of the top performances in the circle at the meet.

Tysen Grinde of Dakota State won the high jump title after clearing the height of 2.04 meters (6 feet, 8.25 inches). Ricky Williams of MT was second, followed by Leischner third with 1.94 meters clearance (6 feet, 4.25 inches). Grinde and Leischner each shared the Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet after scoring a total of 23 points in the field events.

Caleb Sarsland won the 1-mile run to kick off Sunday's running event in 4 minutes, 15.80 seconds. He added a second place finish in the 3000-meter run with a time of 8:32.75. John Spinti of Rocky Mountain won the 3000-meter run title with a personal record time of 8:25.12, ranking him ninth in the NAIA.

Morgan McClernan of Montana Tech edged Carson Krack of Carroll by .01 seconds to win the 60-meter hurdles title (8.18 seconds to 8.19 seconds). Another Oredigger event title came in the 200-meter dash with Matt Moreni winning the title in 22.072 seconds, edging out Mustafa Taylor of DiSU with 22.075 seconds (each official time was 22.08 seconds).

Daniel Oduse of Bismarck State posted his personal record by taking the 60 in 6.92 seconds. His teammate Cayden Kraft won the 600-meter run title with a personal record 1:20.10, edging Mohamed Muse of Dakota State (1:20.64).

Jack Jensen of CC won the 800-meter run title in 1:55.39.

Bismarck State closed the conference meet by winning the 4 x 400-meter run title with a season best time of 3:17.40, beating out Montana Tech by .12 seconds (3:17.52).

BSC's Kraft was named Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Meet after scoring 22.5 points in the running events. He was also selected by the league's head coaches as the conference Most Valuable Athlete.

Shayne Wittkopp of Dickinson State was named the Frontier Conference Pepsi Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.
 

	2026 Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Field Athlete-of-the-Meet Tysen Grinde, Dakota State (S.D.), Ty Leischner, Dickinson State (N.D.) (23 points each in field events)
	2026 Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Meet Cayden Kraft, Bismarck State (N.D.) (22.5 points in running events)
	2026 Frontier Conference Men's Indoor Track & Field Most Valuable Athlete Cayden Kraft, Bismarck State (N.D.)
	2026 Frontier Conference Pepsi Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach-of-the-Year Shayne Wittkopp, Dickinson State (N.D.)