SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A pair of Fighting Hawks and a duo of Coyotes walked away with the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Indoor Track and Field Peak Performer honors, League officials released Tuesday. North Dakota’s Alec Nelson and South Dakota’s Bennett Schwenn took home the awards for the men while USD’s Sara Reifenrath and UND’s Kenna Curry picked up the accolades on the women’s side.
 
At the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational, Nelson broke the UND 800-meter record with a personal-best time of 1:49.38. He broke the record of Jesse Middendorf (1:50.14) who set the record at the same meet last season. Nelson’s personal best leads the League so far this season.
 
Schwenn leaped a personal record mark of 24-8.25 (7.52m) in the long jump to take third overall at the Tyson Invitational. His mark ranks second in USD history, just two inches shy of the school record set in 1978. Schwenn’s leap leads the League so far this season.
 
Fellow Coyote Reifenrath rewrote the USD record books at the Tyson Invitational. She crossed the finish line of the 400m in a personal best time of 52.95 to break her own USD indoor 400-meter record from 2021. She finished seventh overall in the field and moved to No. 28 in the nation in the event.
 
She also was a part of the quartet that took down South Dakota’s 4x400m relay record. The squad took fourth overall with a time of 3:34.54, besting the previous record by eight seconds. The time is the 18^th-best time in the NCAA for the relay.
 
At the SDSU Indoor Classic, Curry captured the weight throw title with a personal-best toss of 71-6.25 (21.80m). Her winning toss moved her up to No. 2 in school history and ranks No. 12 in the nation so far this season.
 
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MEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Alec Nelson, North Dakota
Sr | Distance | Vadnais Heights, Minn.

• Earned his first career weekly award
• Clocked a record-breaking time of 1:49.83 in the 800m
• Owns the League’s top 800m time of the season

Also nominated: Kenechukwu Okpareke (Kansas City), Brandon Kampsen (South Dakota State), Caden Nordberg (St. Thomas), Carter Elde (North Dakota State), Abraham Chelangam (Oral Roberts).
 
MEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Bennett Schwenn, South Dakota
So | Jumps | Milbank, S.D.

• Collected his first career indoor weekly honor
• Took third in the long jump with a personal best mark of 24-8.25 (7.52m)
• Ranks second in USD history with his personal best mark

Also nominated: Hunter Wallster (South Dakota State), Elijah Beach (North Dakota), Isaiah Hopf (St. Thomas), and Kaden Pastian (North Dakota State).
 
WOMEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Sara Reifenrath, South Dakota
Jr | Sprints | Hartington, Neb.

• Captured the sixth career indoor weekly award of her career
• Broke the USD record in the 400m with a time of 52.95; ranking 28^th in the nation
• Ran a leg of the 4x400m relay that took fourth in a record-breaking time of 3:34.54

Also nominated: Jaleesa McWashington (Kansas City), Yonca Kutluk (North Dakota), Brielle Dixon (South Dakota State), Alexis Pratt (St. Thomas), Grace Link (North Dakota State).
 
WOMEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Kenna Curry, North Dakota
Sr | Throws | Elk Point, S.D.

• Earned her second career indoor weekly award
• Won the weight throw with a personal-best mark of 71-6.25 (21.80m)
• Winning mark ranks 12^th overall in the nation so far this season

Also nominated: Meredith Clark (South Dakota), McKenzie Pearson (Kansas City), Madison Kizer (South Dakota State), Merrideth Spiers (North Dakota State).
 
2023-24 Indoor Track & Field Peak Performers of the Week
Dec. 5
MT: Mark Daley, South Dakota
MF: Marshall Faurot, South Dakota
WT: Erin Kinney, South Dakota
WF: Meredith Clark, South Dakota
 
Dec. 12
MT: Kenechukwu Okpareke, Kansas City
MF: Zach McGlynn, North Dakota State
WT: Kendra Kelley, North Dakota State
WF: Nell Graham, North Dakota State
 
Jan. 16
MT: Logan Pratt, Kansas City
MF: Jarod White, North Dakota State
WT: Nell Graham, North Dakota State
WF: Makenna Vollmer, North Dakota State
 
Jan. 23
MT: Jared Wipf, South Dakota State
MF: Marshall Faurot, South Dakota
WT: Nell Graham, North Dakota State
WF: ­Kenna Curry, North Dakota
 
Jan. 30
MT: Abdelrahim Mahgoub, Kansas City
MF: Eerik Haamer, South Dakota
WT: Kendra Kelley, North Dakota State
WF: Cassidy Mooneyhan, South Dakota
 
Feb. 6
MT: Blake Nyenati, North Dakota State
MF: Marshall Faurot, South Dakota
WT: Erin Kinney, South Dakota
WF: Elise Ulseth, North Dakota
 
Feb. 13
MT: Alec Nelson, North Dakota
MF: Bennett Schwenn, South Dakota
WT: Sara Reifenrath, South Dakota
WF: Kenna Curry, North Dakota