SIOUX FALLS – South Dakota State swimmer Elisabeth Timmer and cross country runner Leah Hansen won Summit League Athlete of the Week on Tuesday.
Hansen
South Dakota State’s Leah Hansen has been named the season’s final TicketSmarter Summit League Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday.
A sophomore from Willmar, Minnesota, Hansen crossed the finish line in fourth place individually to help lead the Jackrabbits to a fourth-place finish in the team standings of the Red race at the Bradley Pink Invitational on Oct. 15. She finished the 6,000-meter course at Newman Golf Course in 20 minutes and 52.0 seconds for her third top-five finish of the season and the season’s fastest time recorded by a Summit League athlete.
This is Hansen’s third time receiving the weekly honor this season, as she was recognized following performances at the SDSU Classic on Sept. 10 and the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 24.
Next action for the Jackrabbit women’s cross country team is Oct. 30 at the Summit League Cross Country Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Hansen will defend her individual league title from this past March. The women’s 6K race is set to begin at 11 a.m.
Timmer
For the second week in a row, South Dakota State’s Elisabeth Timmer has been selected as TicketSmarter Summit League Women’s Swimmer of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday.
A junior from Savaneta, Aruba, Timmer went undefeated in four individual events across two dual meets last weekend. In an Oct. 15 home dual against Iowa State, Timmer swept the sprint freestyle events, winning the 50-yard race in 24.04 seconds and the 100 in 52.21 seconds.
The next day, in a double dual against Iowa Central and Barton (Kan.), Timmer claimed individual event titles in the 200 freestyle (1:57.58) and the 100 butterfly (59.60 seconds). She also swam on the Jackrabbits’ winning 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
A two-time all-Summit League performer, Timmer has now been awarded Summit League Women’s Swimmer of the Week accolades five times in her career.
South Dakota State returns to competition Nov. 5-6 at the USD Quad Dual in Sioux Falls.
