University of St. Thomas Athletics
Photo by: Collin Boyles
Bezdicek breaks 200m program record during SDSU Indoor Classic
2/15/2026 3:29:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Apple, Pauly and Wisdom each set program records for St. Thomas Track & Field women
BROOKINGS, S.D. - St. Thomas indoor track & field combined for four program records and five event wins at the SDSU Indoor Classic Feb. 13-14, highlighted by Johnny Bezdicek's record-setting 200-meter victory, Brooke Wisdom's school-record clearance in the pole vault and Olivia Pauly's 5,000-meter record on Friday before Danika Apple's new 60-meter record on Saturday. The Tommies stacked NCAA Midwest-ranked performances and 12 top-three finishes across the two-day meet in Brookings, S.D.
MEN
Junior Johnny Bezdicek led the charge with a program record in the 200 meters, winning the event in 21.54. His time ranks 14th in the NCAA Midwest and third in the Summit League this season. Teammate Jayson Koel followed with a 21.69 to place second and move to fourth in program history, giving St. Thomas two of its fastest 200-meter performances ever in the same meet.
In the field, Trever Schirmer posted the second-best shot put mark in program history at 16.83 meters, finishing second overall. His throw ranks 29th in the NCAA Midwest and sixth in the Summit League this season.
Distance and hurdles events also saw historic movement. Max Westerlund clocked 8:19.38 in the 3000 meters, third all time at St. Thomas, while Ethan Foote moved to fourth in program history in both the 800 meters (1:52.16, third place) and the mile (4:10.14). Seth Johnson ran 8.18 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish fourth and rank fourth all time.
The Tommie men added another all-time mark in the 4x400 relay, as Bezdicek, Koel, Blake Burnstad and Sam Hebert combined for 3:17.66, seventh in program history and fifth in the Summit League this season. Hebert also ran 48.64 in the 400 meters, fourth all time at St. Thomas.
St. Thomas totaled one event win and four top-three finishes, continuing its steady climb across the Summit League performance lists.
WOMEN
The Tommie women produced three program records and a series of Midwest-ranked performances. Danika Apple broke the school record in the 60 meters, running 7.42 in the prelims before placing second in the final. Her time ranks seventh in the NCAA Midwest and third in the Summit League this season.
In the field, Brooke Wisdom cleared 4.05 meters to win the pole vault and set another program record, moving to 12th in the NCAA Midwest and fourth in the Summit League. On the distance side, Olivia Pauly won the 5000 meters in 16:54.74, breaking the school record and ranking 31st in the Midwest.
Sprint depth continued to shine as Apple added a 24.41 in the 200 meters — second in program history — while Alexis Pratt claimed an event win in the 200 meters and moved into the NCAA Midwest rankings. The 4x400 relay of Pratt, Rebecca Randleman, Katelyn Wozniak and Olivia Keller ran 3:44.31, second in program history and third in the Summit League this season.
Additional top-five program marks came from Elsie Kmecak (3000 meters), Ella Olson (60-meter hurdles), Cassia Cady (200 meters), Tessa Campbell (400 meters) and Lauren Rott (weight throw), as the Tommies displayed depth across sprints, distance and field events.
Overall, the women totaled four event wins and eight top-three finishes, continuing to position themselves strongly ahead of the Summit League Indoor Championships.
QUOTABLES
Men's Head Coach Pete Wareham:
"Our guys competed and performed very well at SDSU. It started off on Friday with John Bezdicek setting a new school record for 200 meters and Jayson Koel was just behind. Ethan Foote is now the number four all-time at 800 meters and Brock Bjerke moved into the top 10. Max Westerlund ran a strong 3K and is now number four on the all-time list. Trever Schirmer set two personal records (shot put and weight throw) and ranks number two all-time in the shot put as he approaches the longest active school record set by Mark Dienhart close to 50 years ago.
"The team followed up with some nice breakthrough performances on Saturday including Seth Johnson in the 60-meter hurdles, and Ethan Foote and Casey Poppler in the mile.
"We are moving up on the conference performance list and getting ready for our final tune-up for the Summit League Championships."
Women's Head Coach Ashley Lucas:
"When you walk away with three school records and multiple top 10 additions, it's hard to not be happy with how the team did. Again, Brooke started us off hot with rebreaking the record in the pole vault and then followed closely by Olivia Pauly breaking a long-standing record in the 5K. Then Saturday, Danika started it off with breaking her record in the 60-meter dash.
"I feel like the team continues to bring a very competitive mindset to each meet which we will have to continue and even strengthen a bit as we head into the championship in two short weeks."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas is in its final week of the regular season, competing Friday, Feb. 20 at the Snowshoe Open hosted by the University of Minnesota, before setting its sights on the Summit League Indoor Championships Feb. 27-28 in Grand Forks, N.D.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Men's and Women's Track & Field, follow along on Twitter at @TommieXCTF. Follow both programs on Instagram at @tommiewxctf and @tommiemtfxc
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
MEN
Junior Johnny Bezdicek led the charge with a program record in the 200 meters, winning the event in 21.54. His time ranks 14th in the NCAA Midwest and third in the Summit League this season. Teammate Jayson Koel followed with a 21.69 to place second and move to fourth in program history, giving St. Thomas two of its fastest 200-meter performances ever in the same meet.
In the field, Trever Schirmer posted the second-best shot put mark in program history at 16.83 meters, finishing second overall. His throw ranks 29th in the NCAA Midwest and sixth in the Summit League this season.
Distance and hurdles events also saw historic movement. Max Westerlund clocked 8:19.38 in the 3000 meters, third all time at St. Thomas, while Ethan Foote moved to fourth in program history in both the 800 meters (1:52.16, third place) and the mile (4:10.14). Seth Johnson ran 8.18 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish fourth and rank fourth all time.
The Tommie men added another all-time mark in the 4x400 relay, as Bezdicek, Koel, Blake Burnstad and Sam Hebert combined for 3:17.66, seventh in program history and fifth in the Summit League this season. Hebert also ran 48.64 in the 400 meters, fourth all time at St. Thomas.
St. Thomas totaled one event win and four top-three finishes, continuing its steady climb across the Summit League performance lists.
WOMEN
The Tommie women produced three program records and a series of Midwest-ranked performances. Danika Apple broke the school record in the 60 meters, running 7.42 in the prelims before placing second in the final. Her time ranks seventh in the NCAA Midwest and third in the Summit League this season.
In the field, Brooke Wisdom cleared 4.05 meters to win the pole vault and set another program record, moving to 12th in the NCAA Midwest and fourth in the Summit League. On the distance side, Olivia Pauly won the 5000 meters in 16:54.74, breaking the school record and ranking 31st in the Midwest.
Sprint depth continued to shine as Apple added a 24.41 in the 200 meters — second in program history — while Alexis Pratt claimed an event win in the 200 meters and moved into the NCAA Midwest rankings. The 4x400 relay of Pratt, Rebecca Randleman, Katelyn Wozniak and Olivia Keller ran 3:44.31, second in program history and third in the Summit League this season.
Additional top-five program marks came from Elsie Kmecak (3000 meters), Ella Olson (60-meter hurdles), Cassia Cady (200 meters), Tessa Campbell (400 meters) and Lauren Rott (weight throw), as the Tommies displayed depth across sprints, distance and field events.
Overall, the women totaled four event wins and eight top-three finishes, continuing to position themselves strongly ahead of the Summit League Indoor Championships.
QUOTABLES
Men's Head Coach Pete Wareham:
"Our guys competed and performed very well at SDSU. It started off on Friday with John Bezdicek setting a new school record for 200 meters and Jayson Koel was just behind. Ethan Foote is now the number four all-time at 800 meters and Brock Bjerke moved into the top 10. Max Westerlund ran a strong 3K and is now number four on the all-time list. Trever Schirmer set two personal records (shot put and weight throw) and ranks number two all-time in the shot put as he approaches the longest active school record set by Mark Dienhart close to 50 years ago.
"The team followed up with some nice breakthrough performances on Saturday including Seth Johnson in the 60-meter hurdles, and Ethan Foote and Casey Poppler in the mile.
"We are moving up on the conference performance list and getting ready for our final tune-up for the Summit League Championships."
Women's Head Coach Ashley Lucas:
"When you walk away with three school records and multiple top 10 additions, it's hard to not be happy with how the team did. Again, Brooke started us off hot with rebreaking the record in the pole vault and then followed closely by Olivia Pauly breaking a long-standing record in the 5K. Then Saturday, Danika started it off with breaking her record in the 60-meter dash.
"I feel like the team continues to bring a very competitive mindset to each meet which we will have to continue and even strengthen a bit as we head into the championship in two short weeks."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas is in its final week of the regular season, competing Friday, Feb. 20 at the Snowshoe Open hosted by the University of Minnesota, before setting its sights on the Summit League Indoor Championships Feb. 27-28 in Grand Forks, N.D.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Men's and Women's Track & Field, follow along on Twitter at @TommieXCTF. Follow both programs on Instagram at @tommiewxctf and @tommiemtfxc
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps/Pole Vault
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
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