Rodriguez Named Athlete to Watch in Summit League Preseason Poll
Dec 1, 2021 | Track & Field
North Dakota State was tabbed as the league favorite for the thirteen time with six of the eight first-place votes. South Dakota came in at second with the remaining two votes.
South Dakota State and North Dakota round out the top four, while St. Thomas and Oral Roberts sit ahead of the Mavericks in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Western Illinois completes the poll at eighth.
Omaha finished seventh at the Indoor Summit League Championships last season. Team accomplishments were led by Rodriguez. She earned an All-Summit nod with a leap of 5-06 in the high jump. It was good for second place. She posted a jump of 5-07 at the Outdoor Championships for another All-Summit nod with a third-place finish.
Her indoor jump was the highest finish by a Maverick in the championship. It was also a lifetime best that she surpassed later in the outdoor season.
Rodriguez and the Mavericks return to action this weekend. The indoor season opens at the SDSU Holiday Invite on Dec. 3.
2021-22 Summit League Preseason Poll
1. North Dakota State - 47 (6)
2. South Dakota - 42 (2)
3. South Dakota State - 38
4. North Dakota - 29
5. St. Thomas - 24
6. Oral Roberts - 23
7. Omaha - 11
8. Western Illinois - 10
Athletes to Watch
Jodi Lipp, North Dakota State Jr | Jumps |St. Cloud, Minn.
Akealy Moton, North Dakota State Jr | Throws | West Fargo, N.D.
Anna Robinson, South Dakota Fr | Sprints | May Pen, Jamaica
Marleen Mülla, South Dakota Fr | Pole Vault |Rakvere, Estonia
Leah Hansen, South Dakota State So | Distance | Willmar, Minn.
Annie Wendt, South Dakota State So | Jumps | Rochester, Minn.
Ellyssa Peterson, North Dakota Sr |Distance| Nashwauk, Minn.
Erica Benson, North Dakota Sr | Multis |Mankato, Minn.
Caroline Anderson, St. Thomas Fr | Jumps
Olivia Moll, St. Thomas Sr | Distance | Hammond, Wis.
Gabrielle Gibson, Oral Roberts Sr | Hurdles/Sprints | Nassau, Bahamas
Shalom Olotu, Oral Roberts So | Jumps | Allen, Texas
Sheridan Rodriguez, Omaha Sr | Multis | Deerfield, Kan.
Paulina Wuestefeld, Western Illinois So | Distance | Duderstadt, Germany
Maleigha Huston, Western Illinois Fr | Distance | Good Hope, Ill.
