ELMHURST, Ill.–South Dakota sophomore Chris Nilsen has been named the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the period ended Jan. 21.
 
Nilsen earns the award for the second-straight week this season and the 11th time of his career. He set a Summit League single-season record by collecting five weekly honors during the indoor season a year ago.
 
The sophomore pole vaulter retook the NCAA lead in the men's pole vault on Saturday. After Cincinnati's Adrian Valles briefly passed Nilsen on the charts earlier in the day, Nilsen cleared 18 feet, 6 ½ inches, to move back into first by two inches.
 
Nilsen made his first three bars at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invitational without a miss. He went on to clear 18-6 ½ on his second attempt. The sophomore remains undefeated during indoor competitions with 10 consecutive indoor pole vault meet titles.
 
The Coyotes compete at the Jack Johnson Classic on Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis.