MVC Track & Field Weekly Honors (Apr. 1)
ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference revealed the men’s and women’s track and field weekly honors on Wednesday. Bradley’s Kaden Kingsmith was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, Illinois State’s Seth Nelson earned Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors, Bradley’s Kaitlyn Sheppard was selected Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, and Drake’s Maud Vissher received Women’s Field Athlete of the Week recognition.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kaden Kingsmith, Bradley, Jr., Calgary, Alberta
Kaden Kingsmith started the 2026 Outdoor Track & Field season with a bang, as the junior from Calgary ran a 1:47.55 in the men's 800m at the WashU Distance Carnival in St. Louis. The time is the second-fastest in program history and was an event-winning time at the Distance Carnival. Kingsmith possesses the top time in the conference and the Midwest region. His time also ranks third on the West Qualifying List and is #7 in the NCAA. Two days after his 800m run, Kingsmith set the third-fastest 400m time at the Billiken Invitational, running 48.35. That time was the fastest 400m time by a male Brave in 10 years.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Seth Nelson, Illinois State, Jr., Boise, Idaho
Nelson kept his winning streak alive from the indoor season, taking home the men's pole vault title and breaking the school record with a clearance of 5.28m at the first-annual Joyce Morton-Kief Invite on Saturday. Nelson now holds both the indoor and outdoor school records in the men's pole vault.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kaitlyn Sheppard, Bradley, Sr., Cheltenham, England
Kaitlyn Sheppard began the 2026 Outdoor Track & Field season with a significant 5000m personal best. The senior from England clocked a time of 16:15.74 to win the 5000m at the WashU Distance Carnival, setting the fifth-fastest 5000m time in program history and lowering her PB by nearly 30 seconds. Sheppard's time is the top MVC time by 19 seconds, the top Midwest time by 15 seconds, and the top time on the West Qualifying List by nine seconds. Sheppard's time is also ranked 25th in the NCAA.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Maud Visscher, Drake, Soph., Holwierde, Netherlands
Maud Visscher had a remarkable start to the Bulldogs’ outdoor season as she competed in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw at the Saint Louis University Speed and Power Festival and Billiken Invitational. She won the shot put at both meets including an MVC-leading mark of 14.39m/47-2.5, good enough for 46th on the West qualifying list and fourth in the Midwest region. Her best discus toss of 48.58m/159-4, which also won the Billiken Invitational, is the second-best toss in The Valley this season. Visscher’s hammer effort was second at both meets with a personal record of 50.68m/166-3, moving her into the top 25 in the Midwest region. All of Visscher’s marks this last weekend are top 10 results in Drake women’s track and field history.