Track & Field

Track & Field Weekly Honors (Jan. 27)

Male Track Athlete of the Week –

Brandon Gage, Sr., Illinois State (Chicago, Illinois)
Brandon Gage opened his senior season with a win in the 400-meter dash at the Jack Jennett Open, clocking in at 48.62* seconds, which is currently the fastest 400m time in the Missouri Valley Conference. He is the only MVC student-athlete to run a sub-49 second converted time and is among the top-100 fastest 400m runners in the NCAA, coming in with 89th fastest time so far this season. Gage also helped the Illinois State 4x400-meter relay team to a second-place finish at the Jack Jennett Open, clocking in with a combined time of 3:22.13*, which is the third-fastest time in the Valley this year.

Notables: Noah Malone (Indiana State), Eli Hicks (Northern Iowa), Ryan Schweizer (Drake), Matt Aho (Bradley)  

Female Track Athlete of the Week –

Wilma Nielsen, Fr., Bradley (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Wilma Nielsen had a debut to remember. In her first collegiate meet, Nielsen won the mile run at the Jack Jennett Open -- finishing nearly 10 seconds ahead of the runner up with a mark of 4:50.75. The rookie's time is also the third-fastest in school history, is more than eight seconds ahead of the Valley's second-fastest runner this season and ranks 26th nationally with a converted time of 4:47.54.

Notables: Anna Lowry (Evansville), Rebecca Odusola (Indiana State), Libby Wedewer (Northern Iowa), Jaclyn Greci (Illinois State), Busiwa Asinga (Drake)
 
Male Field Athlete of the Week –

Darius King, Gr.-Sr., Northern Iowa (Moline, Illinois)
Darius King bested his career-best shot put mark and the UNI school indoor record by over 18 inches and moved into second place in the NCAA to highlight UNI performances in the final day of the Jack Jennett Open Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. King hit 20-meters for the first time of his career and did it in consecutive throws, hitting 20.06 before finishing his preliminary round with a throw of 20.00. His previous career-best and old school record was 19.58-meters. King won the event by over five feet over Illinois State's Logan Calvin. He is currently ranked ninth in the world and third in USA for shot put this year.

Notables: Nick Schultz (Indiana State), Logan Calvin (Illinois State), Joey Harkins (Drake)
 
Female Field Athlete of the Week –

Sydney Laufenberg, Sr., Illinois State (Clinton, Iowa)
Sydney Laufenberg opened her final season of indoor eligibility with a win in the weight throw at the Jack Jennett Open, where she threw above 19 meters for the third time in her career. Laufenberg’s best mark of 19.09 meters (62-7.75 ft.) is currently the top mark in the Valley and the 32nd-best in the NCAA.

Notables: Selene Weaver (Indiana State), Marin Ehler (Northern Iowa), Chandler Haight (Drake)

2021 MVC Indoor Performance List 

UNI is set to host the MVC Indoor Track & Field Championship February 26-28th in Cedar Falls, IA. 

*MVC Track & Field Athletes of the Week are selected each week during the Indoor Track & Field season. Nominees are provided by each school’s sports information contact and voted on by a panel appointed by the league office.