SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Personal-best and record-breaking performances earn athletes from North Dakota, North Dakota State, St. Thomas and South Dakota TicketSmarter Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Peak Performer of the Week honors, League officials announced Tuesday. North Dakota’s Luke Labatte and St. Thomas’ Nate Raddatz took the honors for the men while South Dakota’s Erin Kinney and North Dakota State’s Lexi Maples claimed the awards for the women.
 
At the Bryan Clay Invitational, Labatte broke a pair of North Dakota school records. On Thursday, he broke his own school record (8:40.76) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 8:38.25. His record-breaking time currently sits No. 9 nationally and No. 7 in the NCAA West Region.
 
Labatte closed out his record-breaking weekend with a personal-best performance in the 1,500m. He crossed the finish line in a school record time of 3:47.45, breaking the UND record set back at the 2023 Drake Relays by teammate Aleksa Milanovic (3:48.40).
 
Also at the Bryan Clay Invitational, Raddatz broke a 29-year-old St. Thomas record in the decathlon. He scored a league-leading 7,231 points which ranks 22^nd in the nation. On his way to his league-leading decathlon score, he achieved personal-best marks in the high jump (6-02.75; 1.90m) and the 1,500m (4:40.10).
 
At the South Dakota Challenge, Kinney walked away with a pair of victories in the 100m and the 4x100m relay en route to earning back-to-back weekly awards. To capture the 100m title, she clocked a wind-legal 11.31, which leads the League and ranks 33^rd nationally so far this season. Her 4x100m relay squad claimed the top spot on the podium with a school record time of 44.39. The relay ranks 35^th nationally and leads the League.
 
Maples took home the hammer throw title at the Pacific Coast Invitational after tossing a personal-best throw of 213-2 (64.97m). Her winning toss moved her up to No. 13 in the NCAA, No. 3 in NDSU history and fifth all-time among New Zealanders in the event.
 
She also completed in the hammer throw at the Beach Invitational and took fourth overall with a mark of 208-2 (63.46m).
 
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MEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Luke Labatte, North Dakota
Sr | Distance | Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

• Collected his fourth career weekly award
• Broke the UND 3,000m steeplechase record with a personal-best time of 8:38.25
• His 3,000m steeplechase time ranks No. 9 overall nationally and No. 7 in the NCAA West Region
• Broke the 1,500m record with a personal-best time of 3:47.45

Also nominated: Joan Rocha-Narvarro (Kansas City), Charlie Caven (St. Thomas), Mikael Grace (South Dakota), Cody Larson (South Dakota State), Ehtan Moe (North Dakota State)
 
MEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Nate Raddatz, St. Thomas
SR | Multis | Prior Lake, Minn.

• Earned his first career weekly honor
• Broke a 29-year-old UST record in the decathlon with a league-leading score of 7,231
• League-leading score ranks 22^nd nationally

Also nominated: Ethan Fischer (North Dakota, Nahshon Houston (Kansas City), Joe Lynch (South Dakota), Maguire Petersen (North Dakota), Jarod White (North Dakota State)
 
WOMEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Erin Kinney, South Dakota
Senior | Sprints | Harrisburg, S.D.

• Captured her fourth career outdoor weekly honor and 11^th overall
• Won the 100m (11.31) and the 4x100m relay (44.39) with League leading times
• Currently ranks 33^rd nationally in the 100m and 35^th in the 4x100m relay

Also nominated: Alexis Pratt (St. Thomas), Teresa Thomas (Kansas City), Yonca Kutluk (North Dakota), Nell Graham (North Dakota State), Claire Beckman (South Dakota State)
 
WOMEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Lexi Maples, North Dakota State
Sr | Throws | Whanganui, New Zealand

• Garnered her first career outdoor weekly accolade
• Won the hammer throw with a personal-best toss of 213-2 (64.97m)
• Ranks No. 13 in the NCAA, No. 3 in NDSU history and No. 5 all-time among New Zealanders

Also nominated: Olivia Keller (St. Thomas), Jalessa McWashington (Kansas City), Meredith Clark (South Dakota), Eucabeth Kivikangas (North Dakota), Mildred Young (South 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
 
April 9
MT: Jake Werner, South Dakota State
MF: Bennett Schwenn, South Dakota
WT: Erin Kinney, South Dakota
WF: Gen Hirata, South Dakota
 
April 16
MT: Luke Labatte, North Dakota
MF: Nate Raddatz, St. Thomas
WT: Erin Kinney, South Dakota
WF: Lexi Maples, North Dakota State