South Dakota freshman Chris Nilsen and senior Danielle Waldner have been named the Summit League Outdoor Track & Field Athletes have the Week for the period ended April 30 as announced by the league office Tuesday.
This marks the ninth Summit weekly honor in Nilsen’s freshman campaign and Waldner’s third career honor.
The NCAA-leading pole vaulter, Nilsen placed second in the Drake Relays Rio Olympic Rematch competition to 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist Sam Kendricks on Saturday. Nilsen led the event with no misses through the first four progressions including a clearance over 18 feet, 4 ½ inches. The height would have won the Drake Relays collegiate section by three inches. Nilsen added a win and new Lillibridge Track Complex record of 18-0 ½ from the USD Twilight on Monday.
A thrower from Redfield, S.D., Waldner started the week off by launching the shot put two feet past her personal best at the USD Twilight. Her throw of 55-0 ¾ moved her to 18th in the nation and improved her own South Dakota program record. Waldner went on to become the Coyotes’ first Drake Relays shot put champion at the Division I level. She led the field headed into the finals and improved her own mark twice by finishing with a final throw of 52-7 ¼.
