SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the third-straight week, a pair of teammates swept the TicketSmarter Summit League Cross Country Athlete of the Week awards as the South Dakota duo of Merga Gemeda and Ella Byers collected the weekly honors, league officials announced Tuesday. This is the second time a pair of Coyotes swept the weekly awards this season as Gemeda and Abby Ripperda swept the season-opening honors.
Gemeda placed third at the Jay Dirksen/Woody Greeno Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., while Byers was at the front of the Coyote pack on the women's side.
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
Jr. | Sioux City, Iowa
- Placed third at the Jay Dirksen/Woody Greeno Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.
- Clocked in a career-best 8,000-meter time of 24:23.7, finishing five second behind the Red Division winner
- This is the fourth career Summit League weekly accolade for Gemeda
Also nominated: N/A
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ella Byers, South Dakota
R-So. | Chamberlain, S.D.
- Led a pack of five Coyotes with a 19th-place, 5,000-meter time of 18:11.9 at the Jay Dirksen/Woody Greeno Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.
- Dropped 44 seconds off her time from the season opener
- This is the first career Summit League weekly honor for Byers
Also nominated: N/A
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
#SummitXC
