Iowa and Washington Garner Weekly Men’s Indoor Track and Field Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Dec. 10-17, 2025.  

Track Athlete of the Week  
Blake Nyenati, Iowa 
Junior – Hurdles – Andover, Minn. – Major: Interdepartmental Studies 

• Ran a PR 7.73 to win the 60m hurdles at the Jimmy Grant Invite 
• His time is fifth best nationally and leads the Big Ten 
• Nyenati’s time was also seventh best in Iowa history 
• Last Iowa Indoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Kalen Walker (Feb. 14, 2024) 

Field Athlete of the Week 
James Rhoads, Washington 
Senior – Pole Vault – Baltimore, Ohio – Major: Postbaccalaureate Study 

• In his first meet as a Husky, Rhoads took flight with a 5.71m (18-8 ¾) mark to win the Spokane Invitational 
• His mark sits as the top in the NCAA this season and third best in Washington Indoor history 
• This marks Washington’s first Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award. 

Freshman of the Week 
Jordan Gross, Iowa 
Freshman – Sprints – Vandalia, Ohio – Major: Exercise Science 

• Debuted as the top Hawkeye in the 60 meters, qualifying to the finals in the Jimmy Grant Invite 
• His time of 6.77 currently ranks second in the Big Ten in the 60m and first among freshmen 
• Gross also has the 12^th fastest time nationally 
• Last Iowa Indoor Freshman of the Week award: Abraham Vogelsang (Feb. 5, 2025) 

2025-26 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week 
Dec. 10 
Track: Simeon Birnbaum, ORE 
Field: Collin Burkhart, PSU 
Freshman:  Henry Risser, WIS 

Dec. 17
Track: Blake Nyenati, IOWA 
Field: James Rhoads, WASH 
Freshman:  Jordan Gross, IOWA