Male Track –

Willie Johnson, Fr., Southern Illinois (East St. Louis, Illinois)
Willie Johnson won his first two collegiate events at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitational. His time of 46.59 in the 400-meter dash is a new career-best, as well as the fastest time in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.

Noteables: Kevin Koski (Illinois State), Jack Sumners (Northern Iowa), Tahj Johnson (Indiana State), Max Dieterich (Bradley), Emmanuel Champagne (Loyola)

 Female Track –

Wilma Nielsen, Fr., Bradley (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Wilma Nielsen broke the school record in the 800m run for the second-straight week, finishing first of 39 runners at Indiana State. Nielsen crossed the finish line in 2:07.48 — 0.42 seconds faster than her previous school standard. She now ranks first in the Valley in the event (2.5 seconds quicker than the fastest runner outside from Bradley), while 24th in the West Region and 77th nationally.

Noteables: Jill Bennett (Northern Iowa), Zoe Sullivan (Indiana State), Timeka Jordan (Missouri State), Anneka Murrin (Loyola), Savannah Long (Southern Illinois)

Male Field –

Darius King, Gr.-Sr., Northern Iowa (Moline, Illinois) 
Graduate student Darius King shattered the UNI program record in the men’s shot put with a personal-best toss of 20.14m (66’ 1”) to place second at the Gibson Invitational, hosted by Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., April 15-17. The previous record, set in 2016 by Justin Baker, was 19.36m (63’ 6.25”). King also posted a personal-best mark of 52.02m (170’ 8”) in the men’s discus to place second, and recorded a mark of 51.32m (168’ 4”) in the hammer throw to place eighth. The Moline, Ill. native leads the MVC in the men’s shot put, is fourth in the men’s discus, and fifth in the men’s hammer throw. In the NCAA West Region rankings, King sits second in the men’s shot put, 63rd in the men’s discus, and 60th in the men’s hammer throw. Nationally, King ranks second in the men’s shot put. 

Noteables: Nick Schultz (Indiana State), Ricky Hurley (Southern Illinois)

Female Field –
 
Sarah Olojo, Jr., Loyola (Chicago, Illinois)
Loyola junior Sarah Olojo was victorious in the triple jump on Saturday at the Gibson Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind.  A native of Chicago, Ill., Olojo came within a foot of her personal best in the event, registering a top leap of 39-06.50 (12.05m) to best a field of 19 competitors at the meet.  Olojo's mark currently has her residing in third on The Valley's triple jump leaderboard.

Noteables: Jayla Bynum (Indiana State)

2021 MVC Outdoor Performance List  | 2021 NCAA Outdoor Qualifying List 

Southern Illinois is set to host the 2021 MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, May 14 - 16 in Carbondale, Illinois. 

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