SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota senior Chris Nilsen has been named the Summit League Indoor Field Athlete of the Week for the period ended Feb. 9. Nilsen earns the award for the third time this season, extending his Summit record to 24 weekly awards.
 
Nilsen improved his NCAA-leading height in the pole vault to 19 feet, 1 inch, inside the DakotaDome Saturday at the Dakota Realty Alumni Meet. The height improves his indoor school record by a centimeter, or quarter inch, from a week ago. It is tied for the 12th-best mark in NCAA indoor history.
 
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Nilsen is tied for fourth in the world and second in the U.S. this indoor season. Nilsen has vaulted past 19-feet a total of 13 times in his career.
 
South Dakota returns to action this weekend at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.