Illinois, Iowa, Washington Earn Weekly Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Honors

Illini’s Smith, Hawkeyes’ Nwachukwu and Huskies’ Foerster collect weekly awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of April 16-23, 2025.

Track Athlete of the Week
Chloe Foerster, Washington
Junior – Biology – Portland, Ore. – Major: Biology

Won the elite section of the 1500m at the Bryan Clay Invitational
Her 1500m time was a personal-best, Big Ten Record, and NCAA all-time No. 5 time of 4:05.75
Beat the rest of her field by nearly 1.5 seconds
Marks her second sub-4:08 time this April
Foerster's second Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award. Last: April 9, 2025

Field Athlete of the Week
Abria Smith, Illinois
Freshman- Throws – Olympia Fields, Ill. – Major: Special Education

Won the shot put at the Tom Jones Invitational
Her mark of 18.92m (62-1) was an Illinois school record and 14^th-best shot put in NCAA history
For this season, her mark leads the Big Ten and is second in the country
Last Illinois Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award: Bara Sajdokova (April 3, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Chioma Nwachukwu, Iowa
Freshman – Sprints – Asaba, Nigeria – Major: Sport and Recreation

Set two Iowa school records at the Tom Jones Invitational Posted a 51.26 school record in the 400m
Ran the final leg of the school-record setting 4x400m relay (3:30.92)
Her 400m time is the best amongst freshmen in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten overall
This marks Iowa's first Outdoor Freshman of the Week award

2025 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week

March 26
Track: Christine M. Mallard, USC
Field: Ashley Erasmus, USC
Freshman: Ashley Erasmus, USC

April 2
Track: Madison Whyte, USC
Field: Lizzy Korczak, IOWA
Freshman: Maria Arboleda, IOWA

April 9
Track: Chloe Foerster, WASH
Field: Reese Garland, USC
Freshman: Diana Cherotich, ORE

April 16
Track: Madison Whyte, USC
Field: Ashley Erasmus, USC
Freshman: Brianna Selby, USC

April 23
Track: Chloe Foerster, WASH
Field: Abria Smith, ILL
Freshman: Chioma Nwachukwu, IOWA