SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State's Jake Arason, South Dakota's Merga Gemeda and South Dakota State's Leah Hansen secured the final Summit League TicketSmarter Cross Country Peak Performer of the Week honors of the season, league officials announced Tuesday. The trio earned this week's recognition after clocking personal-best performances in each of their respective races.
 
Gemeda and Arason shared the male honor after each racer both broke the 24-minute barrier for the first time in their respective careers.  The duo currently holds the top two 8K times in the League. Gemeda improved his 8K personal best mark on the cross country course for the third-straight week when he clocked a time of 23:59.0 to place fifth at the Platte River Rumble.
 
Arason finished 22nd at the Bradley Pink Classic after clocking a personal-best time of 23:59.7 in the 8K race. Arason improved his 8K time by nearly a minute and a half from his last 8K outing two weeks ago at the Griak Invitational (25:24.6).
 
Hansen finished 10^th overall at the Bradley Pink Classic after clocking a personal-best 6K time of 20:32.3. Her effort was the fastest 6K time run by an SDSU student-athlete at the Newman Golf Course layout.
 
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CO-MALE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
Sr | Sioux City, Iowa

• Collected his tenth career weekly award and third this season
• Took fifth overall in the 8K in a time of 23:59.0 at the Platte River Rumble
• Currently owns one of the two best 8K times in the League

CO-MALE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Jake Arason, North Dakota State
Jr | Grand Forks, N.D.

• Earned his first career weekly award
• Took 22^nd overall in the 8K with a lifetime-best time of 23:59.7 at the Bradley Pink Classic
• Improved his 8K time this season by a minute and a half

Also nominated: Logan Lommel (Western Illinois), Erik Flores Burciaga (Oral Roberts), Luke Labatte (North Dakota), Ben Olson (South Dakota State)
 
FEMALE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Leah Hansen, South Dakota State
Jr | Willmar, Minn.

• Collected her fifth career weekly honor and second this season
• Clocked a personal-best 6K time of 20:32.2 for 10th place at the Bradley Pink Classic
• Helped the Jacks finish 10^th as a team out of 38 teams

Also nominated: Kaleesa Houston (North Dakota State), Paulina Wuestefeld (Western Illinois), Avery Mazzei (Oral Roberts), Jadyn Keeler (North Dakota)
 
2022 Cross Country Peak Performers of the Week
Sept. 6
M: Ben Olson, South Dakota State
W: Allie Wahlund, North Dakota State
 
Sept. 13
M: Hunter Klimek, North Dakota State
W: Kaleesa Houston, North Dakota State
 
Sept. 20
M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
W: Avery Mazzei, Oral Roberts
 
Sept. 26
M: Ben Olson, South Dakota State
W: Leah Hansen, South Dakota State
 
Oct. 3
M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
W: Abby Jirele, South Dakota
 
Oct. 18
Co-M: Merga Gemeda, South Dakota
Co-M: Jake Arason, North Dakota State
W: Leah Hansen, South Dakota State