SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the second time this season, South Dakota's Merga Gemeda and Ella Byers swept the TicketSmarter Summit League Cross Country Athletes of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday. This is also the fourth time this season a pair of teammates swept the weekly awards.
Gemeda and Byers won both individual races and the men's and women's teams captured team titles at the Briar Cliff Invitational in North Sioux City, S.D.
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
Jr. | Sioux City, Iowa
- Won the Briar Cliff Invitational, his first collegiate cross country meet victory
- Ran an 8,000-meter time of 24:56.84, the only man in the 133-person field to break 25 minutes
- This is the sixth career Summit League weekly honor for Gemeda
Also nominated: Habibu Moise (Western Illinois); Max Selbach (South Dakota State); Colton Halla (St. Thomas)
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ella Byers, South Dakota
So. | Chamberlain, S.D.
- Captured the Briar Cliff Invitational crown, her first cross country meet title
- Finished the 5,000-meter course with a time of 17:39.22 and has been the first Coyote across the finish line for the third-straight meet
- This is the second Summit League weekly accolade of the season for Byers
Also nominated: Katherine Hanners (Kansas City); Cailee Peterson (South Dakota State)
2021 Cross Country Athletes of the Week
September 7
M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
W: Abby Ripperda, South Dakota
September 14
M: Ben Olson, South Dakota State
W: Leah Hansen, South Dakota State
September 21
M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
W: Ella Byers, South Dakota
September 28
M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
W: Leah Hansen, South Dakota State
October 5
M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
W: Ella Byers, South Dakota
#SummitXC
