SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota and South Dakota State picked up this week’s latest TicketSmarter Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Peak Performer of the Week honors, League officials released Tuesday. South Dakota State’s Jake Werner and South Dakota’s Bennett Schwenn captured the awards for the men while the Coyote duo of Erin Kinney and Gen Hirata were the recipients for the women.
 
At the NDSU Spring Classic, Werner walked away with a pair of first-place finishes. Individually, he won the 100-meter crown with a League-leading time of 10.27 seconds. His winning time ranks No. 14 in the West Region and No. 49 nationally. Werner also helped the Jacks to a victory in the 4x100m relay (41.23).
 
At the USD Early Bird, Schwenn captured the long jump title with a personal-best jump of 25-01.75 (7.66m). His winning jump is more than a foot past his previous outdoor best and ranks him No. 26 nationally and No. 16 in the West Region. He also took sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 44-9 (13.64m).
 
Fellow Coyote Kinney ran away with two event victories at the USD Early Bird. She won the 100m in a wind-aided, League-leading time of 11.22. She also ran a leg of the 4x100m relay that won in a time of 45.44 seconds.
 
Teammate Hirata improved her season-best mark in the pole vault at South Dakota’s home meet. She cleared a height of 14-03.25 (4.35m) to finish as the top collegian and second overall. It was the second-consecutive week Hirata vaulted past 14 feet and it moved her to No. 5 overall in the NCAA this season.
 
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MEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Jake Werner, South Dakota State
Jr | Sprints | Watertown, S.D.

• Collected his first career weekly award
• Won the 100m at the NDSU Spring Classic with a League-leading time of 10.27
• Ranks No. 14 in the West Region and No. 49 nationally in the event

Also nominated: Mason Roger (Kansas City), Alex Ntiyani (Oral Roberts), Micah Bruggeman (North Dakota), Ardell Inlay (South Dakota), Jayden Murdock (North Dakota State), Jack Rosner (St. Thomas)
 
MEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Bennett Schwenn, South Dakota
So | Jumps | Milbank, S.D.

• Earned his second career weekly honor
• Won the long jump at the USD Early Bird with a personal-best mark of 25-01.75 (7.66m)
• Ranks him No. 16 in the West Region and No. 26 nationally

Also nominated: Ethan Fischer (North Dakota, Nahshon Houston (Kansas City), James Weninger (North Dakota), Carlton Mukurazita (North Dakota State)
 
WOMEN’S TRACK PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Erin Kinney, South Dakota
Senior | Sprints | Harrisburg, S.D.

• Captured her third career outdoor weekly honor and tenth overall
• Won the 100m with wind-aided, League-leading time of 11.22
• Ran a leg of the 4x100m relay that won in a time of 45.44

Also nominated: Ally Ryan (Kansas City), Alimath Salou (North Dakota), Allie Niska (North Dakota State), Taynian Walgrave (St. Thomas)
 
WOMEN’S FIELD PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Gen Hirata, South Dakota
Gr | Pole Vault | Fredericksburg, Va.

• Garnered her third career outdoor weekly accolade and fifth overall
• Cleared a season-best height of 14-03.25 (4.35m) in the pole vault for second overall
• Moved up to No. 5 in the nation with the clearance

Also nominated: Jaiden Boomsma (South Dakota State), Mckenzie Pearson (Kansas City), Malene Kollberg (North Dakota), Lexi Maples (North Dakota State), Anna Swanson (St. Thomas)
 
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