Illinois and Penn State Capture Weekly Outdoor Track and Field Accolades

Men’s Outdoor Co-Track Athlete of the Week

Cheickna Traore, Penn State

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

• Won the 200 meter title at the Florida Relays with a new personal best of 20.23
• His time tied a 38-year-old Penn State record set by Miachel Timpson
• Set the Ivorian National record while tying for second in the NCAA
• Set another school record in the 100 meter (10.26) with the fourth fastest time in the Big Ten
• Anchored Penn State’s 4x400 (3:06.80) to help rank them first in the Big Ten and 21st in the NCAA
• Earns his first career Big Ten Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
• Last Penn State Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Yukichi Ishii (March 28, 2024)

Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

Cody Johnston, Illinois

Fr. – Hobart, Ind. – Hobart – Major:

• Won the pole vault title at the Florida Relays (5.60 meters)
• His mark ranks third in school history, first in the Big Ten and third in the NCAA
• Earns his second Big Ten Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week this season
• Last Illinois Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Cody Johnston (March 20, 2024)

Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week

Hayley Kitching, PSU

So. – Coffs Harbour, Australia – Coffs Harbour – Major: Division of Undergraduate Studies

• Won the 800 meter title and set a new school record with a time of 2:01.17
• Her time is currently ranked first in the Big Ten and second in the NCAA
• Competed in the 1500 meter (4:14.75), ranking first in the Big Ten and 11th in the NCAA
• Owns both Penn State’s indoor and outdoor 800 meter school records with sub 2:02 times
• Earns her first career Big Ten Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
• Last Penn State Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week: Rachel Gearing (May 11, 2022)

Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

Bara Sajdokova, Illinois

Jr. – Bystrice nad Oliší – Major:

• Won the high jump title at the Florida Relays with a new school record of 1.90 meters
• Broke Carmel Corbett’s 31-year-old school record set in 1993
• Her mark ranks first in the Big Ten and second in the NCAA
• Earns her first career Big Ten Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
• Last Illinois Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week: Kandie Bloch-Jones (May 6, 2015)

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

March 20

Men’s

T: Kalen Walker, IOWA

F: Cody Johnston, ILL

F: Mike Stein, IOWA

Women’s

T: Mariel Bruxvoort, IOWA

F: Kat Moody, IOWA

F: Amaya Ugarte, OSU

March 28

Men’s

T: Yukichi Ishii, PSU

F: Angelos Mantzouranis, MINN

Women’s

T: Sidney Green, MICH

F: Shelby Frank, MINN

April 3

Men’s

T: Cheickna Traore, PSU

F: Cody Johnston, ILL

Women’s

T: Hayley Kitching, PSU

F: Bara Sajdokova, ILL