SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State, North Dakota State and South Dakota were represented in the season’s first TicketSmarter Summit League Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week accolades, league officials announced Tuesday. SDSU’s Reid Perzinski and NDSU’s Kristoffer Thomsen secured the honors on the men’s side while USD’s Sara Reifenrath and Marleen Mülla took home the track and field athlete of the week awards on the women’s side.
 
Pierzinski won the 300-meter hurdles at the SDSU Holiday Open in a time of 37.34. His winning time broke the school record, meet record and facility record. He also anchored the 4x400-meter relay team to victory in a time of 3:16.68. The winning relay time ranks 15^th nationally so far this season.
 
Thomsen now leads the nation in the shot put this season after winning the event at the Dakota Alumni Classic. He launched a mark of 63-5 (19.33m) to claim the event. His winning mark leads the NCAA by over one foot following the opening weekend of the season.
 
Reifenrath anchored the Coyotes’ to a win in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:44.07 at the SDSU Holiday Open. The winning time was just shy of the school record and ranks third nationally so far this season. She also finished runner-up to the nation's leader in the 400-meters. Her runner-up time of 54.95 ranks third in the NCAA this season.
 
Mülla captured the pole vault title by more than a foot at the SDSU Holiday Open. She vaulted a personal-best height of 13-11.5 (4.25m) which ranks fifth in USD history and second in the NCAA.
 
Reid Pierzinski, South Dakota State
Jr | Sprints/Hurdles| Nisswa, Minn.

• Collected his first career indoor athlete of the week honor
• Won the 300-meter hurdles with a school-record time of 37.34
• Anchored the 4x400-meter relay team to a victory time of 3:16.68

Also nominated: Demar Francis (South Dakota), Jacob Rodin (North Dakota State)
 
Kristoffer Thomsen, North Dakota State
Sr | Throws | Aarhus, Denmark

• Earned his first career indoor athlete of the week accolade
• Won the shot put with a mark of 63-5 (19.33m)
• Currently leads the nation in the shot put

Also nominated: Tristan Hanna (South Dakota State), Eerik Haamer (South Dakota)


 
Sara Reifenrath, South Dakota
Fr | Sprints | Hartington, Neb.

• Notched her fourth career indoor athlete of the week award
• Anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay that clocked a time of 3:44.07
• Finished runner-up in the 400-meters with a time of 54.95
• Ranks third nationally in both events

Also nominated: Rich-Ann Archer (South Dakota State), Conny Wohlfahrt (North Dakota)
 
Marleen Mülla, South Dakota
Fr | Pole Vault | Rakvere, Estonia

• Earned her first indoor athlete of the week honor
• Won the event with a personal-best mark of 13-11.5 (4.25m)
• Ranks second nationally in the pole vault

Also nominated: Faith Leiseth (South Dakota State), Kenna Curry (North Dakota), Amy Herrington (North Dakota State)
 
2021-22 Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week
December 7
MT: Reid Perzinski, South Dakota State
MF: Kristoffer Thomsen, North Dakota State
WT: Sara Reifenrath, South Dakota
WF: Marleen Mülla, South Dakota