ORU, USD, NDSU take home #SummitITF weekly accolades
ORU, USD, NDSU take home #SummitITF weekly accolades
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Another weekend of The Summit League indoor track and field season means another weekend filled with personal bests and top 10 national marks. Oral Roberts' Kevin Jackson and South Dakota's Chris Nilsen earned the men's track and field honors while North Dakota State's Kelby Anderson and Shelby Gunnells earned the honor on the women's side.
Jackson finished the Arkansas Invitational with two top-5 finishes. He started his night by winning the sixth heat of the 60m dash and taking third overall with a time of 6.83. He followed up that race making his collegiate debut in the 200m dash where he again won his heat and finished fifth overall with a time of 21.66. His time in both events are currently tied for the fastest in The Summit League for the 2020 season.
In the field, Nilsen opened the decade with a third-place finish in the elite vault competition at the National Pole Vault Summit. His mark of 18-08.25 (5.69m) ties him for the NCAA lead this season and would have won him the collegiate section of the competition. Nilsen now leads the league in the event by nearly two feet.
On the women's side, Anderson ran away with the mile title at the Bison Team Cup, finishing with a time of 4:51.11. She leads the league in the mile by 17 seconds and currently ranks 13th nationally this season.
Teammate Gunnells posted a personal-best 63-03.50 (19.29m) to take second place behind All-American Maddy Nilles in the weight throw. Gunnells followed her weight throw performance with a career-best mark of 55-07.75 (16.96m) to win the shot put. Her mark in the shot put ranks sixth nationally and No. 22 on the world list for the season.
Kevin Jackson, Oral Roberts
Fr | Sprints | Midwest City, Okla.
- Earned his first career athlete of the week honor
- Took third in the 60m dash with a time of 6.83 at the Arkansas Invitational
- Finished fifth in the 200m dash with a time of 21.66
- Tied for fastest in the league in both the events
Also nominated: Guillaume Viault (North Dakota State), Michael Oliver (Purdue Fort Wayne)
Chris Nilsen, South Dakota
Sr | Pole Vault | Kansas City, Mo.
- Earned his 22nd career athlete of the week accolade
- Placed third in the elite vault competition with a mark of 18-08.25
- Leads the NCAA in the pole vault this season
Also nominated: Alex Talley (North Dakota State), Bradon Gulch (Purdue Fort Wayne), Joshua Tabla (Oral Roberts)
Kelby Anderson, North Dakota State
Jr | Distance | Bismarck, N.D.
- Notched her first career track athlete of the week award
- Won the mile at the Bison Team Cup with a time of 4:51.11
- Ranks 13th in the nation in the event
Also nominated: Ally Bailey (Purdue Fort Wayne), Sasha Wells (Oral Roberts)
Shelby Gunnells, North Dakota State
Sr | Throws | Solon, Iowa
- Received her first career field athlete of the week honor
- Won the shot put with a career-best mark of 55-07.75 at the Bison Team Cup
- Placed second in the weight throw with a personal-best throw of 63-03.50
- Ranks sixth in the nation and No. 22 in the world in the shot put
Also nominated: Gen Hirata (South Dakota), Naimah Slaughter (Purdue Fort Wayne), Makayla Ayres (Oral Roberts)
2019-20 The Summit League Athletes of the Week
December 10
TM: Nick Wessels, South Dakota State, Hurdles
FM: Trevor Otterdahl, North Dakota State, Throws
TW: Sasha Wells, Oral Roberts, Sprints/Hurdles
FW: Akealy Moton, North Dakota State, Throws
December 17
TM: Nick Derickson, Purdue Fort Wayne, Distance
FM: Luke Beehler, Purdue Fort Wayne, Jumps
TW: Brayden Langdon, Purdue Fort Wayne, Distance
FW: Allyssa Hennessey, Purdue Fort Wayne, Jumps
January 14
TM: Ben Marano, Purdue Fort Wayne, Hurdles
FM: Lane Hawkins, Purdue Fort Wayne, Jumps
TW: Savannah Girolami, Purdue Fort Wayne, Sprints
FW: Naomi Ashley, Purdue Fort Wayne, Jumps
Follow The Summit League
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #ReachTheSummit | #SummitITF
