Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State and Minnesota Claim Weekly Women’s Indoor Track and Field Accolades

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 7-14, 2026.  

Track Athlete of the Week  
Aniya Mosley, Ohio State 
Senior – Mid-distance – Virginia Beach, Va. – Major: Architecture 

• At the Rod McCravy Memorial, Mosley won the women’s 1000m with a time of 2:42.87 
• Her time sets a new program record at Ohio State and is her fourth individual program record  
• Last Ohio State Indoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Anavia Battle (Feb. 23, 2026) 

Field Athlete of the Week 
Sophia Beckmon, Illinois 
Junior – Long Jump – Oregon City, Ore. – Major: Community Health 

• Recorded a 6.81m (22-4 ¼) leap in her win at the Illini Open 
• Her 6.81m jump is currently the word leader, 15^th best in NCAA Indoor history, and the NCAA and Big Ten leader for the 2026 season 
• It also marks the second-best long jump in Illinois program history 
• Last Illinois Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award: Tori Thomas, Jan. 29, 2025 

Co-Freshmen of the Week 
Caila Lyons, Iowa 
Freshman – Sprints – San Antonio, Texas – Major: Undecided 

• Picked up two wins at the Hawkeye Invite in the 600m and 4x400m 
• Her 600m time of 1:31.12 is fourth-best among freshman this season 
• Lyons also ran the final leg of the winning 4x400m with a time of 3:50.92 
• The freshman posted the fastest split, running a 55.50 to seal the come-from-behind win 
• Last Iowa Indoor Freshman of the Week award: Izzy Zahn (Dec. 17, 2025) 

Zeal Kuku, Minnesota 
Freshman – Sprints – Maple Plain, Minn. – Major: Biology, Society & Environment 

• Won the 400m at the Minnesota Open with a time of 54.95 
• Her time is best amongst Big Ten freshmen, No. 2 amongst all freshmen and No. 14 in the NCAA 
• Kuku’s time was also the fastest by a Minnesota freshman since eight-time Big Ten champion Abigail Schaaffe’s 54.05 in 2022 
• This marks Minnesota’s first Indoor Freshman of the Week award 

2025-26 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week 

Dec. 10 
Track: Tayissa Buchanan, PSU 
Field: Anthonett Nabwe, MINN 
Freshman:  Diana Cherotich, ORE 

Dec. 17 
Track: Dymonde Nave, IOWA 
Field: Axelina Johansson, NEB 
Freshman:  Izzy Zahn, IOWA 

Jan. 14 
Track: Aniya Mosley, OSU 
Field: Sophia Beckmon, ILL 
Freshman: Caila Lyons, Iowa/Zeal Kuku, MINN