SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Following an outstanding outdoor season, North Dakota distance runner Jadyn Keeler was named the Summit League Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, the league offices announced Monday.

Keeler made her mark on the UND history books at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and was a Second Team All-American, finishing 16th in the 10,000 meters with a time of 32:59.12. She became just the second Fighting Hawk to compete in a track event at the national meet in UND's Division I history, joining Luke Labatte, who took 16th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase last season. Keeler also became the first North Dakota runner to take part in the 10,000 meters at a national meet since Kim Olund placed fifth at the 1996 NCAA Division II Championships.

Keeler qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000-meters at the NCAA West Preliminary Round and ran the fifth-fastest time (34:07.67) at the meet. She entered nationals ranked No. 6 in the country.

In the 10,000 meters this season, Keeler made headlines nationally and ran a time of 32:06.70 at the Stanford Invitational to finish fourth. Her time at that meet currently ranks No. 17 in the NCAA all-time in the event and set a Canadian U23 record. The previous U23 record by a Canadian in the 10,000 meters was 32:32.61, set by Gracelyn Larkin of Ontario at the 2023 Stanford Invitational. Keeler's time also completely obliterated the 10,000-meter school record, which was held by Yonca Kutluk with a time of 32:57.85 at Stanford last season.

At the NCAA West Preliminary Round, Keeler also came less than three seconds shy of qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 meters and took 14th in 16:04.12. By running in the 5,000 meters, she became the first Hawk in program history to run in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the regional in the same season.

Keeler's success on the track this season earned her a spot on the Canadian national team and she will compete in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters for Canada at the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay this August.

The Ontario distance runner paced the North Dakota track athletes at the Summit League Outdoor Championships this season and piled up three all-conference accolades. She won the gold medal in the 5,000 meters (16:09.70) and 10,000 meters (35:32.01) and was the silver medalist in the 1,500 meters (4:24.35). Her time in the 5,000 meters broke the conference meet record time of 16:16.48, set by Amber Eichkorn of South Dakota in 2015. At the end of the Summit League Outdoor Championships, Keeler was named the Track Championship M.V.P.

Keeler posted program records in the 1,500 meters (4:20.03), 5,000 meters (15:33.59) and 10,000 meters (32:06.70) during the regular season.

For more information on North Dakota track & field, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldXC.