Big Ten Announces Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships Honors

The Big Ten Conference announced the 2023 Big Ten Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships award winners on Friday, as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The championship meet was held last weekend at the Indiana University’s E.C. "Billy" Hayes Track at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex in Bloomington, Indiana.

Michigan junior Ziyah Holman was selected as the Women’s Track Athlete of the Championships, while Nebraska sophomore Axelina Johansson was selected as Field Athlete of the Championships and Wolverines head coach Kevin Sullivan was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Minnesota graduate student Matthew Wilkinson earned Men’s Track Athlete of the Championships accolades, while Nebraska sophomore Till Steinforth was selected as Field Athlete of the Championships and his coach Justin St. Clair was tabbed the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Holman claimed her Outdoor Track Athlete of the Championships honor after winning the 400 meters with a Big Ten meet and program record time (50.90) and posting a second-place finish in the 200 meters (23.08). Holman was also part of the 4x400 meter relay team (3:30.52) which captured second place and the 4x100 meter relay team (44.12) which came in third. Johansson was named the Outdoor Field Athlete of Championships after winning the women’s shot put with a new meet record mark (19.54 meters). Sullivan earned his first career Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honor after claiming his first Coach of the Year award and championship at indoors two months prior.

Wilkinson received his first Outdoor Track Athlete of the Championships award after dominating in the 5,000 meters (13:51.31) and capturing the 3,000-meter steeplechase championship (8:38.40). Steinforth claimed the long jump title with a mark of 7.80 meters and coasted through the decathlon with 8,064 total points, 278 points ahead of his nearest challenger. St. Clair earns his first career men’s Coach of the Year honor after leading the Huskers to their third outdoor men’s title.

The Big Ten Conference office also recognizes one student-athlete from each team as Sportsmanship Award Honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. These student-athletes are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.

 The Big Ten will announce its Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year and Freshman of the Year following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships, which are scheduled for June 7-10 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Honorees

Women’s Track Athlete of the Championships

Ziyah Holman, Jr., MICH

Women’s Field Athlete of the Championships

Axelina Johansson, So., NEB

Women’s Coach of the Year

Kevin Sullivan, MICH

Women’s Sportsmanship Award Honorees:

Olivia Howell, ILL

Serena Bolden, IND

Mariel Bruxvoort, IOWA

Ericka VanderLende, MICH

Olivia Lopez, MSU

Marta Kogucki, MINN

Madison Lueger, NEB

Addie Engel, OSU

Jean Starr, PSU

Cierra Williams, PUR

Dennisha Page, RU

Kiley Robbins, WIS

Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Honorees

Men’s Track Athlete of the Championships

Matthew Wilkinson, Gr., MINN

Men’s Field Athlete of the Championships

Till Steinforth, So., NEB

Men’s Coach of the Year

Justin St. Clair, NEB

Men’s Sportsmanship Award Honorees:

Aiden Ouimet, ILL

Antonio Laidler, IND

DeAndre Stapleton, IOWA

Eric Albright, MD

Tom Brady, MICH

Josh Devries, MSU

Seth Eliason, MINN

Michael Hoffer, NEB

Dan Drellishak, OSU

Carter Fitzgerald, PSU

Praise Aniamaka, PUR

NaDale Buntin, RU

Jason Swarens, WIS