Oregon and Penn State Collect Weekly Men’s Indoor Track and Field Laurels
Ducks’ Bair and Smith, and Nittany Lions’ Roban earn weekly awards
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 28- Feb. 4, 2026.
Track Athlete of the Week
Handal Roban
Senior – Mid-distance – St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Psychology
- Won the Penn State National Open 800m with a time of 1:44.91
- His time was the third fastest NCAA 800m time ever
- It also marks a Penn State school record and 29th fastest indoor 800m time in world history
- He improved upon his previous indoor personal best by nearly three full seconds
- Last Penn State Indoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Darius Smallwood (Feb. 5, 2026)
Field Athlete of the Week
Peyton Bair, Oregon
Freshman – Multi-event – Kimberly, Idaho – Major: Chemistry
- Scored an NCAA-leading 6,371 points to win the heptathlon at the Razorback Invitational
- Broke the Big Ten record and moved to No. 2 in Oregon program history
- Entered season with a previous best of 6,104 points (+267 increase)
- This marks Oregon’s first Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award
Freshman of the Week
Ben Smith, Oregon
Freshman – Throws – Fremont, Wis. – Major: BADM
- Won shot put at the Razorback Invitational
- Threw a lifetime best of 19.82m (65-½) to break the Oregon indoor school record in the shot put
- His mark currently ranks second in the Big Ten and fourth in the NCAA this season
- This marks Oregon’s Indoor Freshman of the Week award
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
Jan. 14
Track: Trelee Banks, IND
Field: Ryan Johnson, IOWA
Freshman: Quincy Isaac, MICH
Jan. 21
Track: Garrett Kaalund, USC/Tyler Bilyard, WASH
Field: James Rhoads, WASH
Freshman: Jax Coleman, PUR
Jan. 28
Track: Patrick Hilby, WIS
Field: Luuk Pelkmans, ILL
Freshman: Luuk Pelkmans, ILL
Feb. 4
Track: Handal Roban, PSU
Field: Peyton Bair, ORE
Freshman: Ben Smith, ORE