THE SUMMIT LEAGUE'S RELEASE
ELMHURST, Ill. - Record-setting Western Illinois track and field athlete junior Nichole Manning (Kansas City, Mo./Winnetonka) has been named as the final Summit League Women's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week as announced by the league office on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Manning earned the award, the first of her career, after winning the Women's Pole Vault at the Iowa Invitational on Friday, Feb. 18. Manning won the event with a height of 11-11.75 in her lone appearance this season, which ranks as The Summit League's third best performance. Manning's winning-mark is also the third highest in program history.
Manning is Western's pole vault record holder for both the Indoor (12-08.25) and Outdoor (12-11.50) seasons. The Kansas City, Mo. native was an NCAA Regional Qualifier in 2009 and earned Summit League Outdoor All-Conference honors that season. As a freshman in 2007-08, Manning was an All-Summit League selection for both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons.
Manning's honor marks the second time this Indoor season that a Leatherneck has earned the Summit League Athlete of the Week award. Junior sprinter Michael Hemming won the Men's award on Dec. 14.
Manning and several other Fighting Leathernecks are poised to capture conference titles this weekend as Western Illinois competes in The Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships. The event will take place in Fargo, N.D. on the campus of North Dakota State University from Feb. 27-28.
