Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska and Purdue Garner Weekly Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Laurels

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of April 8-15, 2026.  

Track Athlete of the Week  
Samuel Vessat, Purdue 
Junior – Sprints – Paris, France – Major: Sociology 

• Ran the second leg of the 4x400 to lead Purdue to a time of 3:02.15 
• The time is a program record and leads the Big Ten by 2.03 this season 
• Also ran 20.48 in the 200m for the top-wind legal time and second overall at the Spec Towns Invitational 
• Last Purdue Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Obokhare Ikpefan (April 12, 2017) 

Co-Field Athletes of the Week 
Ryan Johnson, Iowa 
Junior – Throws – Springboro, Ohio –Major: Mechanical Engineering 

• Opened the outdoor season with a win in the hammer throw with a mark of 75.75m (248-6) at the Jim Duncan Invite 
• His mark is a school record, leads the Big Ten, and is second nationally 
• Last Iowa Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award: Emmanuel Njoku (March 25, 2026) 

Keyshawn Strachan, Nebraska 
Junior – Javelin – Nassau, Bahamas – Major: Child, Youth & Family Studies 

• Won the javelin title at the Spec Towns Invitational with a throw of 257-6 (78.48m) in his season debut 
• His winning throw ranks first in the Big Ten and second nationally 
• Last Nebraska Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award: Kavian Kerr (May 14, 2025) 

Freshman of the Week 
Quincy Isaac, Michigan 
Freshman – Jumps – Belleville, Mich. – Major: Undeclared 

• Jumped 7.68m (25-2 ½) for third in the long jump at the Spec Towns Invitational 
• His mark is currently No. 10 in the conference 
• This marks Michigan’s first Outdoor Freshman of the Week Award in program history 

2026 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week 

March 25 
Track: Prior Ochonogor, IOWA 
Field: Emmanuel Njoku, IOWA/Brian O’Sullivan, RU 
Freshman: John Caleb, MINN 

April 1 
Track: Ajani Dwyer, PSU 
Field: Racquil Broderick, USC 
Freshman: Hencu Lamberts, NEB 

April 8 
Track: Simeon Birnbaum, ORE/Ajani Dwyer, PSU 
Field: James Rhoads, WASH 
Freshman: Ben Smith, ORE 

April 15 
Track: Samuel Vessat, Purdue 
Field: Ryan Johnson, IOWA/Keyshawn Strachan, NEB 
Freshman: Quincy Isaac, MICH