Northern State University Athletics

Season & Career Bests

2025-26: Competed in 9 meets for the Wolves… Recorded a personal best in the 400m (1:05.47)… Won the 4x400m relay against Jamestown… Added second-place finishes in the 800m and 4x400m relay against Jamestown and at the U-Mary Winter Classic, respectively… Recorded top-10 finishes in the 800m at the U-Mary Winter Classic, Mount Marty Twilight, and USD Snooze Button Classic… Tallied 6 top-10 finishes on the season… Competed in the 800m and 4x400m relay throughout the indoor and outdoor campaigns, helping Northern State to relay victories and top finishes during the season… Earned NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors…

2024-25: Competed in 12 meets for the Wolves… Recorded personal bests of 3:09.08 in the 1000m and 2:22.24 in the 800m… Notched 10 top-10 finishes on the year… 

Prep: Payton Kemnitz is a middle-distance runner out of Wolsey-Wessington High School. She was a 5-year letterwinner for the Warbirds under the direction of head coach Lindy Uttecht. Kemnitz holds personal bests of 2:28.00 in the 800m and 5:35.00 in the 1600m. She is the WWHS school record holder in the 800m, 1600m, 4x800m relay, 4x400m relay, and medley relay. The Warbirds have won the conference championship in each of her five seasons and tallied a region championship in 2022. She is the daughter of NSU track and field alum Joel and NSU alumna Shauna Kemnitz.