Big Ten Announces Women’s Indoor Track & Field Postseason Awards
Huskers’ Johansson joins Ducks’ Lusti and Nielsen with honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the 2026 Big Ten Women’s Indoor Track and Field postseason individual award recipients on Wednesday, as selected by the conference’s head coaches.
Oregon’s Wilma Nielsen was named Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, while Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson was voted for Field Athlete of the Year and Oregon’s Liisa-Maria Lusti was named Freshman of the Year.
Nielsen claimed two NCAA titles in Fayetteville this past weekend. In a stacked group, the senior reclaimed the throne in the mile with a time of 4:40.06. The senior also played a crucial part in the 1600m leg of the Duck’s Distance Medley Relay title, as she pulled away in the final lap from runner-up South Carolina. The group of Juliet Cherubet, Lakely Doht-Barron, Silan Ayyildiz and Nielsen finished with a time of 10:48.76. She also becomes the first Oregon athlete to win Track Athlete of the Year honors.
Nebraska’s Johansson, the NCAA-record holder in shot put, lived up to her name and won the NCAA title in Arkansas. Her winning throw of 19.55m (64-1 ¾) was the only throw over 19-meters. Johansson becomes the first Nebraska athlete to win Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honors since the Corn Huskers joined the Big Ten. Johansson previously won the Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year award in 2023.
Lusti was crowned NCAA Champion in the pentathlon after recording a season-best 4,498 points, moving into a tie for the No. 15 performer in collegiate history. To take the overall lead, she recorded a lifetime-best of 6.63m (21-9) in the long jump. She is the first Oregon athlete to win Freshman of the Year honors.
Earlier this month, the Big Ten announced the award recipients for Track Athlete of the Championships, Field Athlete of the Championships and Coach of the Year, as well as the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honorees.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Honorees
Track Athlete of the Year
Wilma Nielsen, ORE
Field Athlete of the Year
Axelina Johansson, NEB
Freshman of the Year
Liisa-Maria Lusti, ORE