2023 NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week
Athletes of the week are evaluated on their performance during the week prior to the announcement. Each athlete is selected out of a pool of nominees from across the country
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Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Phemelo Matlhabe, Life (Ga.)
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The senior turned in four NAIA "A" qualifying marks, with the 4x100m and 4x400m marks leading the NAIA this season. Also placed third in the 200m dash with a time of 20.99. |
Nominees: Dom Maricelli, Montana Tech, Malik Williams, Langston (Okla.), Emad Bashir-Mohammed, Saint Mary (Kan.), Daniel Butler, College of Idaho, Noah Cunningham, Siena Heights (Mich.), Martin Farver, Dickinson State (N.D.), Keishon Franklin, Southeastern (Fla.), Carter Hemeyer, Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.), Tafara Hondonga, Willam Penn (Iowa), Campbell Rawlings, Campbellsville (Ky.), Colin Rowe, Xavier (La.), Nolan Rudd, St. Ambrose (Iowa), and Malik Williams, Langston (Okla.).
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Conner Tordsen, Dakota State (S.D.)
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Tordsen broke his own school record in the hammer throw with a 61.97 performance at Drake Relays - the 6 throws of that event were all above 60.45. Conner also threw the 4th best shot put in DSU history with a 15.77 performance. In the NAIA Conner is ranked 18th in the shot put, 3rd in the discus and 5th in the hammer throw. In the NSAA Conner is ranked 1st in the hammer and discus, as well as 2nd in the shot put. |
Nominees: Ishmael Ealoms, Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas), Garrett Kocab, Carroll (Mont.), Seth Alexander, Xavier (La.), Justin Borden, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Nick Fiacco, Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.), Gage Hiebert, Baker University (Kan.), Ja'Kelveon Jackson, Madonna (Mich.), Zack Johnson, Tabor College (Kan.), William Jones, Life (Ga.), Tanner Nett, Eastern Oregon, and Mick Saloninas, St. Ambrose (Iowa).
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Keishon Franklin, Southeastern (Fla.)
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Franklin was the Most Valuable Performer at The Sun Conference Championship over the weekend with five all-conference placements. He ran a season-best in the 200, posting the ninth-fastest time in the NAIA this season at 21.29 and won the 400 Meters in 47.14. He also ran a leg of the victorious 4x100 relay and added points in the Long Jump. Franklin was also in the high jump where he placed fifth, clearing 1.9 meters on his first attempt. |
Nominees: Phemelo Matlhabe, Life (Ga.), Dustin Blevins, Montreat (N.C.), Jalen Anderson, Viterbo (Wis.), Deveyon Blacknell, Madonna (Mich.), Kaden Cooley, Saint Mary (Kan.), Kalen Dockweiler, Doane (Neb.), Brycen Gardner, Carroll (Mont.), Carter Hemeyer, UHSP (Mo.), Vindero Lightfoot, Keiser (Fla.), Frankie Maciel, Southern Oregon, David Mannella, Benedictine (Kan.), Steven Ott, Indiana Wesleyan, and Malik Williams, Langston (Okla.).
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Conner Tordsen, Dakota State (S.D.)
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Two meets and five events spread over four days resulted in four wins, Four automatic NAIA qualifying standards, and even more impressive, the Red Raider Open meet was held in temperatures of 35 degrees, blowing snow, and 20 mile-per-hour winds. Tordsen won three events at the Red Raider Open and won the Discus at the Monday Meet. |
Nominees: Christian Rios, Marian (Ind.), Dylan Kucera, Midland (Neb.), Dustin Blevins, Montreat (N.C.), Christian Bothwell, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), Kendall Caffey, Langston (Okla.), Austin Campbell, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Brett Glaser, Carroll (Mont.), Tim De Greef, Keiser (Fla.), Zack Johnson, Tabor College (Kan.), Kyle Manuel, Southeastern (Fla.), Justice Miller, Grand View (Iowa), Kenny Miller, Columbia (Mo.), Jesunifemi Ojutalayo, Aquinas (Mich.), Christian Rios, Marian (Ind.), and Ledamian Rowell, William Carey (Miss.).
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Nastario Williams, Talladega (Ala.)
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Williams won a pair of events and hit three NAIA "A" qualifying marks. His best 100m time was 10.39 and the 4x100m mark was 40.85. |
Nominees: Esau Haynes, Indiana Tech, Cody Branch, Dillard (la.), Donovan Denslow, Missouri Baptist, Joel Forbes, Cumberland (Tenn.), Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Grace (Ind.), Carter Huyser, Grand View (Iowa), Curtis Johnson, Dakota State (S.D.), Peyton Miller, Dordt (Iowa), Donte Sol, Multnomah (Ore.), RJ Terry, Montreat (N.C.), Jaylan Washington, Ottawa (Kan.), and Jackson Wilson, Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Dylan Kucera, Midland (Neb.)
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Kucera, a senior from Fremont, Nebraska, had a pair of runner-up finishes over the weekend. On Friday, he took 2nd in the hammer throw at the Concordia Outdoor Invite, reaching an NAIA 'A' mark of 60.32m. The following day, he placed 2nd in the shot put at the Kansas Relays with a throw of 18.21m. He currently ranks 1st in the GPAC and NAIA in the shot put and ranks 1st in the GPAC and 3rd in the NAIA in the hammer throw. |
Nominees: Goodness Iredia, Cumberland (Tenn.), Rowan Hamilton, University of British Columbia, Garrett Kocab, Carroll (Mont.), Enoch Aboussou, Missouri Valley, Dustin Blevins, Montreat (N.C.), Grant Erisman, Columbia (Mo.), Vince Giuliano, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Xavier Hutchinson, Wiley (Texas), Zack Johnson, Tabor College (Kan.), Mark Morozov, Life (Ga.), Mick Saloninas, St. Ambrose (Iowa), Shomari Somerville, Indiana Tech, Isaiah Tipping, Marian (Ind.), and Conner Tordsen, Dakota State (S.D.).
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Saminu Abdul-Rasheed, Florida Memorial
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Abdul-Rahseed continues to dominate the NAIA as he holds the top time in the nation in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. He finished top-2 in both his events in a very competitive field made up of NCAA DI, The Sun Conference, and unattached athletes. |
Nominees: Bryn Woodall, Milligan (Tenn.), Jacob Ulrich, Life (Ga.), Griffin Armbrustmacher, Lawrence Tech (Mich.), Josiah Bolton, Friends (Kan.), Jason Bowers, Cumberland (Tenn.), Cody Branch, Dillard (La.), Camren Carter, Judson (Ill.), Donovan Denslow, Missouri Baptist, Braden Heath, College of Idaho, Khalmarly Holmes, Waldorf (Iowa), Showalter Johnson, Willam Penn (Iowa), Nelson Kemboi, Goshen (Ind.), Payton Mauldin, Dordt (Iowa), and Jackson Wilson, Rocky Mountain (Mont.).
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Iredia Goodness, Cumberland (Tenn.)
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Won both the Long Jump and the Triple Jump at the Kennesaw State Invite. Set the top mark in the nation in the Triple Jump with a leap of 15.76m. Won the Long Jump with a jump of 7.39m, which is fourth in the NAIA this season. |
Nominees: Treshawn Roberts, Dakota State (S.D), Cole Wilson, Keiser (Fla.), Colder Evans, Central Methodist (Mo.), Gavin Frantz, Columbia (Mo.), Dan Heninig, Indiana Wesleyan, William Jones, Life (Ga.), Brock Lengacher, Grace (Ind.), Tanner Nett, Eastern Oregon, Cole Parker, Kansas Wesleyan, Imhotep Pryor, Providence (Mont.), Mick Saloninas, St. Ambrose (Iowa), Zach Zohner, Concordia (Neb.), and Noah Cunningham, Siena Heights (Mich.).
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Davien Worrels, Southeastern (Fla.)
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Worrels posted the No. 2 time nationally in the 100 Meters with a 10.35 to win the event. Southeastern has three of the top 10 in the event this season. |
Nominees:
Wyatt Baldauf, Dakota Wesleyan, Esau Haynes, Indiana Tech, Brig Merritt, University of Saint Mary (Kan.), Nastario Williams, Talladega (Ala.), Dustin Blevins, Montreat (N.C.), Jason Bowers, Cumberland (Tenn.), Cody Branch, Dillard (La.), Justin Duran, Oklahoma Panhandle State, Isaac Fernandez, Southern Oregon, Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Grace (Ind.), Clarence Strong Jr., Missouri Valley, Jay King, USC Beaufort, Edwin Kipainoi, Montana Tech, Jorge Olivo-Cabrera, Waldorf (Iowa), Will Reemtsma, St. Ambrose (Iowa) and Jordan Crawford, Missouri Baptist.
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Dylan Kucera, Midland (Neb.)
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Kucera, a senior from Fremont, Nebraska, picked up wins in both the shot put and hammer throw at the Central Nebraska Challenge this week. He now leads the NAIA in the shot put at 18.82m (1.41m further than 2nd) and is second in the hammer throw at 62.00m. |
Nominees:
Christian Rios, Marian (Ind.), Seth Alexander, Xavier (La.), Dustin Blevins, Montreat (N.C.), Colder Evans, Central Methodist (Mo.), Jordan Iwuchukwu, Oklahoma City, Gregory Jenkins, Viterbo (Wis.), Jay Jetmore, Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Judson Mansfield, Eastern Oregon, Cole Parker, Kansas Wesleyan, Jaylen Poole, Cumberland (Tenn.), Jordan Rivers, USC Beaufort, Ledamian Rowell, William Carey (Miss.), Mick Saloninas, St. Ambrose (Iowa), Scott Smith, Concordia (Mich.), Christopher Watson, Dillard (La.) and Charles Pickens, William Penn.
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: James Williamson III, Southeastern (Fla.)
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James Williamson III placed first at UCF in the 200m in a new personal best, school record, Sun No. 1, and NAIA No. 1 time of 20.73. He also ran 3rd leg on the 4x100 that placed 2nd overall in a new school record and NAIA No. 1 time of 40.35. He also took 4th overall in the 100m at 10.44. |
Nominees:
Edwin Van Wyk, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.),Tyvonne Allen, Wiley (Texas), Cody Branch, Dillard (La.), Dillon Callaway, Tabor (Kan.), Cameron Deatherage, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.), Eli Fullerton, Indiana Wesleyan, Riley Greenhoff, Dakota State (S.D.), Tafara Hondonga, Willam Penn (Iowa), Edwin Kipainoi, Montana Tech, Chase Mars, Vanguard (Calif.), Peyton Miller, Dordt (Iowa), Jacob Mitchell, USC Beaufort, RJ Terry, Montreat (N.C.), Cerrone Thompson, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), Dylan Uhrich, British Columbia (B.C.), and Jacob Ulrich, Life (Ga.)
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Dylan Kucera, Midland (Neb.)
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Kucera, a senior from Fremont, Nebraska, won the men's shot put and was runner-up in the hammer throw in the first outdoor meet of the season. He reached the NAIA 'A' Standard in both events. He has the top distance in the NAIA shot put by over a full meter and ranks 2nd in the hammer throw. |
Nominees:
Christian Bothwell, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), Gage Hiebert, Baker (Kan.), Dustin Blevins, Montreat (N.C.), Austin Campbell, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Payton Cates, Montana Tech, Grant Erisman, Columbia (Mo.), De'Jon Lewis, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), Kyle Manuel, Southeastern (Fla.), Mark Morozov, Life (Ga.), Cole Parker, Kansas Wesleyan, Abelardo Rendon, Westcliff (Calif.), Christian Rios, Marian (Ind.), Edgar Sactic, Vanguard (Calif.), Ryan Shinabery, Cornerstone (Mich.), Conner Tordsen, Dakota State (S.D.), and Christopher Watson, Dillard (La.)
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Chase Mars, Vanguard (Calif.)
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Mars rewrote the Vanguard history book in the 100-meter dash, breaking his own record in the event. He finished first in 10.50 seconds, improving upon his best effort of 10.53 on April 15, 2022. Mars also came tantalizingly close to breaking a 49-year-old school record in the 200-meter dash. He won the race in 21.03 seconds, coming within .01 of Mike Singletary's 21.02 mark in 1974. Mars outraced several NCAA Division I competitors from the Navy to get the win. |
Nominees:
Keishon Franklin, Southeastern (Fla.), Donte Sol, Multnomah (Ore.), Griffin Armbrustmacher, Lawrence Tech (Mich.), Liam Boivin, Evangel University (Mo.), Dylan Branch, Montreat (N.C.), Blake Harris, Xavier (La.), Logan Horning, Friends (Kan.), Tajean Houston, Texas Wesleyan, Joseph Levier III, Wiley (Texas), Melvin Johnson, Keiser (Fla.), Emmanuel Niang, Talladega (Ala.), Cerrone Thompson, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), Ludovico Vaccari, Cumberlands (Ky.), and Jackson Wilson, Rocky Mountain (Mont.).
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Koby Graham, Evangel University (Mo.)
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Graham broke the Evangel school record on Saturday in the Javelin, hitting a mark of 58.50m to hit the NAIA "A" standard and qualify for Outdoor Nationals. |
Nominees:
Andrew Mitchell, Southern Oregon, Kyle Manuel, Southeastern (Fla.), Julien David, Keiser (Fla.), Ethan Fralish, Thomas (Ga.), Reshaun Fridie, Wiley (Texas), Ian Lee Heung, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), Nicholas Holley, Mobile (Ala.), Jay Jetmore, Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Tristan Petrey, Cumberlands (Ky.), and Elijah Tocabens, Texas Wesleyan.
Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Noah Johnson, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
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Johnson participated in the Hendrix College Alumni Open and placed third in a loaded field in the 100-meter dash. He finished with a time of 11.60. |
Nominees: Josh Brown, Central Baptist (Ark.)
Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Isaiah Hoelscher, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.)
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Isaiah Hoelscher took part in the Dean Pryor Invite this past weekend and took first in the Hammer throw with a toss of 53.15m and then took fourth place in the Discus with a throw of 43.70m. Both throws are tops in the nation this season. |
Nominees: Peyton Shotwell, Georgetown (Ky.) and Ivan Emde, Trinity Christian (Ill.)
