South Dakota freshman Chris Nilsen and senior Danielle Waldner have been named the Summit League Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for the period ended Jan. 29.
Nilsen collects his third consecutive weekly honor in his third week of eligibility. Nilsen leads the nation in the pole vault with a jump of 18 feet, 2 ½ inches, from the Jack Johnson Classic on Saturday. His mark set a Minnesota Fieldhouse record and improved his own school record from the week prior. Nilsen tops the Summit by eight inches this season. He’s also tied for 19th on IAAF world lists in 2017.
Waldner earns her first career athlete of the week award after winning the shot put at the Jack Johnson Classic. Waldner tossed the shot put 53-4 ¼ to improve her own school record in the event by more than a foot. The mark leads the Summit League and ranks 17th in the nation this season. She also finished sixth in the weight throw with a toss of 55-5 at the meet. Waldner has a pair of Summit shot put titles outdoors, but has not yet captured an indoor title. She’s a three-time NCAA West Preliminary qualifier.
