SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A pair of distance runners and a duo of pole vaulters earned the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Peak Performer of the Week awards, League officials announced Tuesday. North Dakota’s Luke Labatte and North Dakota State’s Jarod White collected the weekly accolades for the men while UND’s Yonca Kutluk and South Dakota’s Gen Hirata were the honorees for the women.
 
At the Stanford Invitational, Labatte broke his own program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 8 minutes and 40.76 seconds. He broke the last record at the 2023 Drake Relays, where he set it with a time of 8:41.75. His record-breaking time earned him a sixth-place finish in his section and ranks him No. 4 in the NCAA West Region and No. 6 overall nationally.
 
At the Texas Relays and Texas State’s Bobcat Invitational, White went back-to-back on broken records. He first broke the outdoor pole vault record at the Texas Relays after he cleared a height of 17-04.5 (5.30m) to earn fifth place overall. White then rebroke the record at the Bobcat Invitational clearing a height of 17-05.5 (5.32m) for third place. His record-breaking clearance ranks 18^th in the NCAA this season.
 
Kutluk destroyed the 10,000m UND record besting the previous record (35:27.26) by two and a half minutes at the Stanford Invitational. She shattered the record crossing the finish line in 32:57.85 to take 14^th overall in the event. Her record-breaking time ranks her No. 8 in the West Region and No. 18 overall in the NCAA.
 
At the Texas Relays, Gen Hirata captured fifth place in the university elite women’s pole vault section. On her third attempt, she cleared a height of 14-01.25 (4.30m) which sits tied for sixth in the nation so far this season.
 
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MEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Luke Labatte, North Dakota
Sr | Distance | Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

• Collected his third career weekly award
• Broke the UND 3,000m steeplechase record with a personal-best time of 8:40.76
• Took sixth overall and ranks No. 4 in the NCAA West Region and No. 6 overall nationally

Also nominated: Joan Rocha-Narvarro (Kansas City), Jake Arason (North Dakota State), Abraham Chelangam (Oral Roberts), Mikael Grace (South Dakota)
 
MEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Jarod White, North Dakota State
So | Pole Vault | Oronoco, Minn.

• Earned his fourth career weekly honor
• Broke the NDSU outdoor pole vault record twice, on back-to-back days
• His clearance of 17-05.5 (5.32m) ranks 18^th in the NCAA this season

Also nominated: Nahshon Houston (Kansas City), Marshall Faurot (South Dakota)
 
WOMEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Yonca Kutluk, North Dakota
Fifth Year | Distance | Karatay, Turkey

• Collected the first weekly award of her career
• Broke UND’s 10,000m record with a time of 32:57.85 for 14^th place
• Record-breaking time moved her to No. 8 in the West Region and No. 18 in the nation this season

Also nominated: Ally Ryan (Kansas City), Tania Gleason (Omaha), Molly Desotell (St. Thomas), Nell Graham (North Dakota State), Jacy Pulse (South Dakota)
 
WOMEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Gen Hirata, South Dakota
Gr | Pole Vault | Fredericksburg, Va.

• Garnered her second career outdoor weekly accolade and fourth overall
• Took fifth in the university elite section with a clearance of 14-01.25 (4.30m)
• Sits tied for sixth in the NCAA so far this season

Also nominated: Jalessa MacWashington (Kansas City), Emma Klein (Omaha), Alex Seagris (North Dakota State)
 
2024 Outdoor Track & Field Peak Performers of the Week
March 12
MT: Aleksa Milanovic, North Dakota
MF: Trenton Hanseder, North Dakota
WT: Jadyn Keeler, North Dakota
WF: Eucabeth Kivikangas. North Dakota
 
March 19
MT: Khamarly Holmes, North Dakota State
MF: Jarod White, North Dakota State
WT: Kendra Kelley, North Dakota State
WF: Arienne Birch, North Dakota State
 
April 2
MT: Luke Labatte, North Dakota
MF: Jarod White, North Dakota State
WT: Yonca Kutluk, North Dakota
WF: Gen Hirata, South Dakota