MVC Track & Field Weekly Honors (Feb. 26)
ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference revealed the men’s and women’s track and field weekly honors on Thursday. Bradley’s Jamie Phillips was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, Drake’s Sam Carpenter earned Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors, Indiana State’s Rachel Mehringer was selected Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, and Indiana State’s Aliseonna Garnett received Women’s Field Athlete of the Week recognition.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jamie Phillips, Bradley, Soph., Troon, Scotland
Jamie Phillips lowered his region-best 800m time in Bradley's final weekend before the MVC Championships, running 1:46.79 at the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville on Feb. 20. The time, which remains the best in the conference and the Midwest, is now in the top 20 in the entire country and holds the 800m program record by over two seconds over the second-fastest performer.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sam Carpenter, Drake, Jr., Alexandria, VA
Drake’s Sam Carpenter showed out again at a competitive Iowa Open with a fourth-place finish in the men’s weight throw. He took fourth with a Bulldog record heave of 21.76m/71-4 3/4. It was the highest nationally ranked performance of all MVC field athletes this week and made him the third highest nationally MVC athlete overall. Carpenter now leads The Valley after achieving the farthest weight throw in the conference since 2018. He ranks seventh in the Midwest Region and 23rd nationally.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Rachel Mehringer, Indiana State, Jr., Schnellville, IN
Rachel Mehringer broke both Indiana State and Missouri Valley Conference records in the 60m hurdles on her way to a first-place finish in the event at the ISU Open. Mehringer’s time of 8.16 in prelims broke meet, facility, school and conference records in the event, with the 2025 Second Team All-American also running a time of 8.26 in finals to secure the win by more than four-tenths of a second. Mehringer owns the four fastest times in the MVC this season (8.16, 8.25, 8.26, 8.29) in addition to her conference record in the event. She also owns the top 60 hurdles time in the Great Lakes Region, which consists of all schools in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Mehringer’s time of 8.16 ranks 25th nationally for the 2025-26 season.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Aliseonna Garnett, Indiana State, Jr., Indianapolis, IN
Aliseonna Garnett continued her strong season with a career-best effort in the weight throw at the ISU Open, while also winning the shot put. Garnett’s mark of 19.12m (62-8.75) in the weight throw was the best among collegiate athletes in the field, while being just the second athlete in the MVC to break the 19-meter mark this season. She also broke the 15-meter mark in the shot put for the second straight week and third time this season, claiming a first-place finish with her top throw of 15.18m (49-9.75). Garnett owns the top shot put mark in the MVC this season, while also ranking second in the conference in the weight throw. She also ranks eighth in the Great Lakes Region in the shot put and 13th in the region in the weight throw.