Michigan, Oregon and USC Claim Last Weekly Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Awards
Wolverines’ Kuhn, Ducks’ Bovele-Linaka, and Trojans’ DeFrand collect honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of May 6-13, 2026.
Track Athlete of the Week
Dajaz DeFrand, USC
Senior – Aurora, Colo. – Major: American Pop Culture
- Won the women’s 200m at the Franson Last Chance meet
- Her time of 22.58w is a new season best and is the No.1 200m time in the Big Ten this season
- Last USC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award: Madison Whyte (April 22, 2026)
Field Athlete of the Week
Maria Josee Bovele-Linaka, Oregon
Sophomore – Throws – Nice, France – Major: Pre-Business
- Won the discus throw at the Oregon Twighlight with a mark of 58.10m (190-7)
- Her mark sits at No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 12 in the NCAA this season
- This marks Oregon’s first Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week Award
Freshman of the Week
Sydney Kuhn, Michigan
Freshman – Hurdles – Saginaw Valley, Mich. – Major: Movement Science
- Ran a 50.08 to win the 400m Hurdles in her collegiate debut at the Len Paddock Open
- Her time is ninth-best in the conference
- Last Michigan Outdoor Freshman of the Week award: Emmry Ross (April 15, 2026)
2026 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week
March 25
Track: Kiara Webb, OSU
Field: Elizabeth Tapper, MICH
Freshman: Kiara Webb, OSU
April 1
Track: Aniya Mosley, OSU/Marie-Eloise LeClair, PSU
Field: Jada Foreman, USC
Freshman: Taysha Stubbs, NEB
April 8
Track: Madison Whyte, USC
Field: Anthonett Nabwe, MINN
Freshman: Oluwatosin Awoleye, USC
April 15
Track: Kelsie Belquist, NEB
Field: Karsyn Leeling, NEB
Freshman: Emmry Ross, MICH
April 22
Track: Madison Whyte, USC
Field: Hana Moll, WASH
Freshman: Tatum Lynn, OSU
April 29
Track: Berlyn Shutz, NEB
Field: Anthonett Nabwe, MINN
Freshman: Boh Ritchie, PSU
May 6
Track: Kelsie Belquist, NEB
Field: Hadley Streit, MINN
Freshman: Cary Drake, NW
May 13
Track: Dajaz DeFrand, USC
Field: Maria Josee Bovele-Linaka, Oregon
Freshman: Sydney Kuhn, MICH