EMPORIA, Kan. – The season came to a close on Friday afternoon at Francis G. Welch Stadium, the host site of the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, for the Black Hills State University men's and women's track & field teams as they saw their final two athletes competing on the national stage. The evening began with thrower Cassidy Goddard making her nationals debut in the discus throw and earning an 18^th place finish, while Evan Smith concluded the weekend on the track by earning his second All-American honor of the season with a 16^th place finish for Second Team All-American status in the event.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – MEN'S TRACK & FIELD

• Evan Smith earned his second Second Team All-American honor of the year in the 800m run on Friday afternoon, posting a time of 1:50.79 for 16^th place in a field of 22 athletes. He previously earned the accolade in the event in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in March.
• Smith was the third Yellow Jacket to compete in the 800m run of the outdoor track & field championships in the school's DII era, becoming the first to earn an All-American honor.
• Smith's 16^th place finish and time of 1:50.79 was the highest finish and fastest time of any BHSU athlete competing in the event at the national championships in DII era history.
• Competing in the second of three heats, he ran to a sixth place finish among seven in the heat. 

HOW IT HAPPENED – WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD

• Making her debut at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, Cassidy Goddard recorded an 18^th place finish in a field of 22 athletes as she notched a mark of 43.52m (142' 9") in the discus throw.
• Goddard recorded the mark on her first attempt, before scratching on the second attempt, and then posting a throw of 37.54m (123' 2") on her third and final attempt.
• The mark of 43.52m makes it the seventh time in eight meets during the outdoor season that Goddard recorded a throw of 40m or better in the discus.
• Goddard became just the second Yellow Jacket in program history to compete in the discus throw at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was the first since 2022.