Athletes from South Dakota State, South Dakota and North Dakota State swept the Summit League indoor track awards this season.
South Dakota State’s Joel Reichow was voted 2017 Summit League Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year while South Dakota’s Chris Nilsen claimed the Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honor. South Dakota State’s Rachel King was voted Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and North Dakota State’s Rose Jackson took home Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, in a vote of the league’s head coaches as announced by the league office Friday.
Reichow is the first South Dakota State student-athlete to be named Summit League Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. The senior distance runner was named Men’s Track Championship MVP after winning both the mile and 5,000-meter run at the Summit League Indoor Track & Field Championships. His 5,000-meter time (14:24.17) is a new championship record. Reichow also set the school record in the 5,000-meter with a time of 14:07.12 at the Iowa State Classic.
Nilsen becomes the Coyotes second Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honoree, joining fellow pole vaulter Kyle McKelvey who won the award after the 2014-15 season. The Kansas City native became the first freshman in League history to win a national title after clearing 18’ 8.25” (5.70m) in the pole vault. He was also crowned the 2017 Summit League pole vault champion and named the Men’s Field Championship MVP after posting a new championship record height of 18’ 5.5” (5.63m). Nilsen won all seven events that he competed during the indoor season, and led the nation with his jump at the Jack Johnson Invitational (18’ 8.25”-5.70m) for four-straight weeks before finishing the campaign T-14th in the world. His NCAA Championship mark is a new school and League record.
King is named Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year for the first time in South Dakota State history. The sophomore won both the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs at The Summit League Championships. Her 3,000-meter time (9:34.21) was the best mark in the League during the indoor season, while her 5,000-meter time (16:54.68) was the second-best in the League. In addition to her two League championship victories, she won the 3,000-meter run at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invite in January.
Jackson is the first North Dakota State female student-athlete to be voted Indoor Field Athlete of the Year since Leslie Brost in 2011-12. The senior clinched her first career Summit League Championship title after setting a new League record in the pentathlon (4,077 pts.) at the 2017 League Championships. The Willmar, Minn. native held the nation’s 15th-best pentathlon score to qualify for the NCAA Championships, where she placed eighth to be honored as a First Team All-American for the first time in her career. She also won the 200-meter run, long jump, and was a member of the Bison squad that won the 4×400 relay and set a new League record at The Summit League Championships.
