KAMPSEN IMPROVES 800M PROGRAM RECORD

Friday, February 20

Brookings, S.D.

South Dakota State University

SDSU Last Chance

A male track runner in white races around the curve of the track surrounded by competitors jockeying for position

Photo by: Becca Ball | South Dakota State

2/20/2026 7:46:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

By: Becca Ball

BROOKINGS, S.D. — Brandon Kampsen bests his 800-meter program record to win the event at the South Dakota State Last Chance Meet Friday evening.

HEAD COACH ROD DEHAVEN
"I think it was a productive day. We got some nice personal bests, including the school record from Brandon in the 800-meter and Caiden's big throw in the weight throw. All in all, the athletes that competed today had a solid afternoon. I think we have some good momentum heading into the conference championships next weekend."

Kampsen bested his previous 800-meter program record by 0.32 millisecond as he crossed the line at 1:49.48. Joe Dustin competed as well, finishing sixth with a time of 1:51.57 to become the eighth-best performer in program history.

Caiden Fredrick won the weight throw with a new personal record mark of 68-08.00 (20.93m). The junior's mark was only a few inches away from Colton Bender's program record of 68-11.75, leaving Fredrick as the second-best performer in program history.

Later, Fredrick competed in the shot put, where he and his teammates swept the top four. Caymen Gebheim won the event with a mark of 54-11.50 (16.75m), to become the ninth-best performer in program history. Fredrick took runner-up with a throw of 54-04.00 (16.56m). TJ Christensen and Sam Ruid finished third and fourth, respectively. Christensen hit a mark of 47-11.25 (14.61m), while Ruid threw 45-00.25 (13.72m).

On the women's side, Lydia Hill and Kirsten Kilker finished second and third, respectively. Hill threw 55-05.00 (16.89m), while Kilker posted a mark of 53-06.25 (16.31m).

On the track, the Jackrabbits swept the 60-meter hurdle podium. Brady Wallace won the event with a time of 8.04, Carter Johnson finished runner-up at 8.11 and Cael Woods clocked 8.56 to take bronze.

Sian O'Sullivan posted a new personal record in the 60-meter to take gold. O'Sullivan crossed the line at 7.55 to become the seventh-best performer in program history. Reese Beemer competed as well, claiming silver with a time of 7.76.

In jumping events, Ryan Karajanis finished runner-up in the pole vault. Karajanis cleared 16-00.75 (4.90m) to become the fifth-best performer in program history.

Wyatt Melcher and Ty Nelson had quite the showing in the triple jump competition. Nelson set a new meet record with a leap of 49-02.25 (14.99m) to win the event, while Melcher finished runner-up with a mark of 45-10.50 (13.98m).

Grayson Ring and Brooks Holen finished first and second, respectively, in the high jump. Ring cleared 6-06.25 (1.99m), while Holen leaped 6-04.25 (1.94m). On the women's side, Taylor Jochum took gold with a jump of 5-03.75 (1.62m).

Other notable performances on the track came from Madalyn Childs in the 800-meter (second, 2:15.31), Kyra Weiss in the 400-meter invitational (first, 57.53), Grace Erik in the 200-meter invitational (second, 25.18) and Will Harder in the 3000-meter (second, 8:56.20).

In field events, Nora Butler competed in women's shot put (second, 41-10.50/12.76m) and McKenzie Blowers in triple jump (first, 36-01.25/11.00m). Several Jackrabbits competed in long jump, including Kincade Lehman (first, 23-00.75/7.03m), Rylan McDonnell (third, 22-03.00/6.78m), Wyatt Melcher (fourth, 21-11.75/6.70m) and Johanna Pihl (second, 18-00.25/5.49m).

-GoJacks.com-