Saka, Wetering, Merkel, Rains and Dilling Earn Track and Field Honors
Pinar Saka of Nebraska-Omaha, Tyler Wetering of South Dakota and Jesse Merkel of Minnesota State have been named the North Central Conference Indoor Track Athletes of the Week while Jim Dilling and Katelin Rains of Minnsota State have been named the North Central Conference Indoor Field Athletes of the Week.
Saka, a sophomore from Istanbul, Turkey, won the 400-meter dash at the adidas Classic with provisional-qualifying time of :54.95. The time is the second fastest time in UNO history and the third fastest time in NCAA Division II competition this season.
Wetering, a senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., finished fourth in the mile at the adidas Classic with a provisionally-qualifying time of 4:11.48, the third fastest time in NCAA Division II competition this season.
Merkel, a sophomore from Menomonie, Wis., won the 3,000-meter run at the Wisconsin Elite Invitational with a 8:49.48 clocking.
Rains, a sophomore from Spring Lake Park, Minn., won the pole vault with a career-best 12-11 1/2 vault at the Wisconsin Elite Meet. The mark is the top mark in NCAA Division II.
Dilling, a senior from Fond du Lac, Wis., had one of the most impressive performances in the history of the NCC. He won the Wisconsin Elite meet with a high jump of 7-6 1/2. The mark is the top jump by any American this season, broke his MSU record and the facility, which he set last season. Dilling defeated his nearest competition, which was made up of 10 NCAA Division I competitors, by 6 1/4 inches.
Others nominated: Track Male: Forrest Randall,
Minnesota Duluth; Brian Werner, Augustana. Track Female:
Jenny Goesch, Minnesota State; Heidi Mullenberg, South Dakota; Liz
Palkie, Minnesota Duluth. Field Male: Steve Milkovich,
Minnesota Duluth. Field Female: Lindsey Schultz,
Augustana.