USD’s McKelvey, NDSU’s Lesser named #SummitITF Athletes of the Week
USD’s McKelvey, NDSU’s Lesser named #SummitITF Athletes of the Week
ELMHURST, Ill. – South Dakota's Kyle McKelvey and Emily Lesser of North Dakota State were named The Summit League's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for their performances Feb. 2-8.
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kyle McKelvey, South Dakota
Sr. // Beresford, S.D.
South Dakota's McKelvey has been selected as The Summit League's Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week for the second time of his career and the second time this season. The senior thrower set a new DakotaDome and South Dakota record with his throw of 60' 5.25" in the shot put. The toss is tops in The Summit League this season and currently ranks No. 34 in the nation. He followed that up with a personal-best weight throw of 56' 10" to finish second in the event at the Dakota Realty Alumni Meet.
Also nominated: Miguel Lozano, IUPUI; Grant Mjelstad, NDSU.
Previous honorees: Dec. 9 – Sonwabiso Skhosana, Oral Roberts; Jan. 13 – Reinhard Ndlovu, Oral Roberts; Jan. 20 – Kyle McKelvey, South Dakota; Jan. 27 – Joey Zielinski, IUPUI; Feb. 3 – Teivaskie Lewin, South Dakota.
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Emily Lesser, North Dakota State
Sr. // Maple Grove, Minn.
Emily Lesser garners her first career Summit League Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week award. The senior tacked on three inches to her NDSU shot put record with a throw of 51' 10.5", which is best in the league this season and ranks 28th nationally. The throw won the event at the Thundering Herd Classic over the weekend. She followed that up with a third-place finish throw of 60' 8.5" in the weight throw. That distance is second best in The Summit League this season.
Also nominated: Leah Brooks, IUPUI; Katie Wetzstein, South Dakota; Kiawna Cottrell, Fort Wayne.
Previous honorees: Dec. 9 – Rose Jackson, NSDU/Mary Wirth, SDSU; Dec. 16 – Stephanie Ahrens, Omaha; Jan. 13 – Madison Reynolds, ORU; Jan. 20 – Erin Teschuk, NDSU; Jan. 27 – Madison Reynolds, ORU; Feb. 3. – Erin Teschuk, NDSU.
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 nine institutions, including four 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), Oral Roberts University, 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 along with over 65 All-Americans, 60 Academic All-America selections and numerous former student-athletes competing at the highest professional level. For more information about the league and to "See The Summit", visit www.thesummitleague.org, follow on Twitter @thesummitleague, download The Summit League's Front Row app, and watch the weekly "Inside The Summit League" show at www.thesummitleague.org/itsl.
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