Minnesota and Penn State Collect Weekly Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Accolades

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of April 2-9, 2025.  

Track Athlete of the Week  
Handal Roban, Penn State 
Junior – Mid-distance – St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Major: N/A 

• Ran a 1:45.16 in the 800m race to finish second in the Florida Relays 
• His time is first in the Big Ten and second best in the NCAA this season 
• Roban’s time is also second in Penn State program history 
• Last Penn State Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Cheickna Traore (April 17, 2024) 

Field Athlete of the Week 
Kostas Zaltos, Minnesota 
Grad Student- Throws – Kilikis, Greece – Major: Sport/Exercise Science M Ed 

• Threw the No. 7 hammer mark in NCAA history with a mark of 255-7 (77.91m) 
• Won the Pepsi Florida Relays over teammate Angelos Mantzouranis who put down the ninth best hammer throw in NCAA history 
• Zaltos’ mark broke four-time Olympian Jud Logan’s 39-year-old facility record  
• Last Minnesota Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award: Charles Godfred (April 10, 2025) 

Freshman of the Week 
Precious Opinion 
Freshman – Jumps – Nigeria – Major: Undeclared 

• Finished second in the triple jump with a mark of 50-11.5 (15.53m) at the Pepsi Florida Relays
• Also finished third in the long jump with a mark of 24-5 (7.44m)
• Both marks are top amongst freshman in the Big Ten
• Nationally, he is No. 24 in both the long jump and triple jump
• This marks Minnesota’s first Outdoor Freshman of the Week Award 

2025 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week 
March 26 
Track: Yougendy Mauricette, USC 
Field: Racquil Broderick, USC 
Freshman:  Bryce Ruland, IOWA 

April 2 
Track: Garrett Kaalund, USC 
Field: Elias Gerald, USC/Scott Toney, WASH 
Freshman: Ajani Dwyer, PSU 

April 9 
Track: Handal Roban, PSU 
Field: Kostas Zaltos, MINN 
Freshman: Precious Opinion, MINN