Oregon, Penn State and Washington Garner Weekly Men’s Indoor Track and Field Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Feb. 11^th- Feb. 18^th, 2026.  

Track Athlete of the Week  
Handal Roban, Penn State 
Senior – Mid-distance – St. Vincent & the Grenadines – Psychology 

• Broke his own 800m program record to come in second at the ASICS Sound Invite  
• His 1:44.73 is now a new Big Ten record and second-fastest in NCAA history 
• This marks Roban’s second Indoor Track Athlete of the Week this season. Last: Feb. 18, 2026 

Field Athlete of the Week 
Kobe Lawrence, Oregon 
RS Sophomore – Throws – Kingston, Jamaica – Major: General Social Science 

• Won shot put at the Jarvis Scott Invitational with a throw of 20.16m (66-1 ¾) 
• Lawrence’s mark is best in the Big Ten and No. 2 in the NCAA this season 
• He also becomes the third collegian beyond 20 meters this season 
• This marks Oregon’s first Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award 

Freshman of the Week 
Teko Cates, Washington 
RS Freshman – Multi-event – Springdale, Wash. – Major: Pre Major 

• In his first high jump competiton in two years, Cates won with a PR of 2.19m (7-2 ¼) 
• His PR is No. 13 in the NCAA this season and No. 4 in Washington history 
• Cates' clearance is tied for the best clearance in the Big Ten this season 
• Also ran the 60m hurdles in a season-best of 8.78 seconds 
• Last Washington Indoor Freshman of the Week award: Martin Barco (Feb. 19, 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 

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 Blair, ORE 
Freshman: Ben Smith, ORE 

Feb. 11 
Track: Garrett Kaalund, USC 
Field: Ryan Johnson, IOWA 
Freshman: Kamryn Harry, PUR 

Feb. 18 
Track: Handal Roban, PSU 
Field: Kobe Lawrence, ORE 
Freshman: Teko Cates, WASH