Minnesota, Nebraska and Penn State Earn Weekly Awards

Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week

Cheickna Traore, Penn State

Gr. – Linden, N.J. – Innovation – Graduate Certificate: Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Took home two event titles at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge

• Won the 60 meter dash (6.64), 0.01 seconds off his school record time of 6.63

• His 60 meter mark is second in the Big Ten and 20th in the NCAA

• Helped the 4x400 meter relay to a win with a time of 3:05.87

• The group ran the ninth fastest time in the country, fourth fastest in school history and ranks first in the Big Ten

• Earns his second Big Ten Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week this season

• Last Penn State Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Olivier Desmeules, (Jan. 31, 2024)

Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week

Till Steinforth, Nebraska

Jr. – Saxony-Anhalt, Germany – SV Halle– Major: Architectural Studies

• Won the heptathlon at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational with 6,097 points

• Won the 60 meter run, long jump, 60 meter hurdles and set a new personal record time of 2:47.08 in the 1000 meters

• His points rank first in the Big Ten and second in the NCAA

• Earns his second career Big Ten Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week

• Last Illinois Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week: Kam Garrett (Jan. 10, 2024)

Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week

Brooke Jaworski, Minnesota

Gr. – Wausau, Wis. – Wausau West – Major: Sports Management

• Broke the Minnesota 800 meter school record, which stood for 18 years, with a time of 2:03.48

• The time ranks second in the Big Ten, 10th in the NCAA, and 43rd in the world

• Won the 600 meters at the Meyo Invite with a time of 1:28.23

• She ranks fifth in school history and second in the Big Ten

• Helped the 4x400 meter relay take home the title with a time of 3:37.82

• The team ranks eighth all-time at Minnesota, second in the Big Ten and 23rd in the NCAA

• Earns her first career Big Ten Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week this season

• Last Minnesota Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Amira Young (Feb. 15, 2024)

Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week

Shelby Frank, Minnesota

Sr. – Grand Forks, N.D. – Red Rivers – Major: Health Sciences

• Won the weight throw title with a season best mark of 24.09 meters

• The mark is nearly two meters ahead of the rest of the Big Ten this season

• She has the fifth furthest throw in Big Ten history and is now ranked second in the nation

• Earns her sixth career Big Ten Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week

• Last Minnesota Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week: Shelby Frank (Jan. 31, 2024)

2023-24 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Dec. 13

Men’s

T: Kalen Walker, IOWA

F: Sean Smith, IOWA

Women’s

T: Paige Magee, IOWA

F: Daniela Martine Wamakpego, IOWA

Jan. 10

Men’s

T: None

F: Kam Garrett, ILL

Women’s

T: None

F: Tori Thomas, ILL 

Jan. 17

Men’s

T: Cheickna Traore, PSU

F: Henry Zimmerman, NEB

Women’s

T: Kenisha Phillips, IND

F: Darja Sopova, ILL

Jan. 24

Men’s

T: Cameron Miller, PUR

F: Sal Capaldo, IOWA

F: Henry Zimmerman, NEB

Women’s

T: Paige Magee, IOWA

T: Hayley Kitching, PSU

F: Chloe Timberg, RU

Jan. 31

Men’s

T: Olivier Desmeules, PSU

F: Aiden Ouimet, ILL

F: Hayden Tobias, OSU

Women’s

T: Hayley Kitching, PSU

F: Shelby Frank, MINN

Feb. 7

Men’s

T: Cheickna Traore, PSU

F: Till Steinforth, NEB

Women’s

T: Brooke Jaworski, MINN

F: Shelby Frank, MINN