USD’s Mettler and Mills, WIU’s Taylor Collect Weekly Outdoor Track and Field Awards
USD’s Mettler and Mills, WIU’s Taylor Collect Weekly Outdoor Track and Field Awards
ELMHURST, Ill. – South Dakota's Jeff Mettler and Western Illinois' Jamario Taylor were named The Summit League's Outdoor Track and Field Men's Athletes of the Week, while South Dakota's Madison Mills was named the Women's Athlete of the Week for their performances April 22-28.
MEN'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Jeff Mettler, South Dakota
Sr. // Eureka, S.D.
Mettler garners his fourth career Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week honor and second this season after claiming his second-straight 3,000-meter steeplechase title at the Drake Relays. The senior won the event with a league-best and school record time of 8:51.05, ranking 19th in the nation.
Jamario Taylor, Western Illinois
Sr. // Aurora, Ill.
Taylor captures his first career Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week award after a first-place finish in the high jump at the 2014 Red Wolf Open. The Aurora, Ill., native cleared a league-leading and school record height of 7'1.5" (2.17m), which is tied for 19th in the NCAA.
Also nominated: Quinn Baumann, North Dakota State.
Previous honorees: 3/25 – Trevor Berner, North Dakota State; 4/1 – Jeff Mettler, South Dakota; 4/8 – Jeff O'Connell, South Dakota; 4/15 – Kyle McKelvey, South Dakota; 4/22 – Jerome Begin, North Dakota State & Dustin Valind, South Dakota.
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Madison Mills, South Dakota
So. // Reno, Nev.
Mills earns her first career Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week honor after claiming first in the pole vault in two meets last week. The sophomore won the event at the Drake Relays with a league and personal-best height of 13'9.25" (4.20m), tying for 17th in the nation. She also took first in the pole vault at the Mount Marty Twilight clearing 12'7.5" (3.85m).
Also nominated: Brittany Beard, Fort Wayne; Amy Mattingly, IUPUI; Paige Stratioti, North Dakota State.
Previous honorees: 3/25 – Antoinette Goodman, North Dakota State; 4/1 – Mary Wirth, South Dakota State; 4/8 – Paige Stratioti, North Dakota State; 4/15 – Sami Spenner, Omaha; 4/22 – Sami Spenner, Omaha.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at eight institutions, including three located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced eight NCAA Champions, 62 All-Americans and 50 Academic All-America selections.
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