University of South Dakota Athletics

One of South Dakota's most storied student-athletes is three-time national champion pole vaulter and Olympic silver medalist, Chris Nilsen (2016-20) has was inducted into the USD Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2026. The two-time Olympic qualifier is just one of two Division I national champions at South Dakota and garnered seven All-American honors as a pole vaulter at USD. He's the only Summit League student-athlete to earn three national championships individually, which also is a USD record.
 
 
In 2020, the United States Track and Field and Cross County Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Nilsen the Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, where he earned three-time Indoor (2017, 2019-20) and Outdoor (2017-19) Summit League Field Athlete of the Year recognition. Nilsen graduated from South Dakota with school records in the Indoor pole vault (19-5½), Outdoor pole vault (19-6¼), and DakotaDome record (19-4¼). Upon his selection into the USD Hall of Fame (June 2026), he continues to hold the NCAA Outdoor National Championships meet record in the pole vault.