KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its first Track and Field Athletes of the Week from the 2025-26 men’s indoor season, presented by
Beynon – the official track surface of the MIAA. All ten MIAA men’s track and field programs were in action over the weekend, with multiple athletes posting top NCAA Division II marks. Central Missouri’s Nolan Vancauwemberghe was named the league’s first men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week, and Pittsburg State’s Drew Wilhite was named the first Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.
INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Nolan Vancauwemberghe, Central Missouri
Nolan Vancauwemberghe set a new Central Missouri record and posted the top NCAA Division II time in the men's 60-meter hurdles in the prelims of the Washburn Alumni Invitational last Saturday (Dec. 6), tallying a time of 7.76 to win his heat and qualify for the final. In the final, he was the top Division II finisher with a time of 7.78.
INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Drew Wilhite, Pittsburg State
In his season debut, Drew Wilhite compiled the top point total in NCAA Division II this season in the heptathlon at the Boo Rogers Combined Events Friday and Saturday (Dec. 5-6). The redshirt junior from Humboldt, Kan., claimed victory in the multi-events with 5,182 points between the seven events, just 14 points from his personal best point total and 75 points ahead of the second-highest Division II heptathlon point total so far this season.
NOTABLE TRACK PERFORMANCES:
Ezekiel Seamster, Emporia State
Ezekiel Seamster had a pair of provisional qualifiers and top ten NCAA Division II times at the Washburn Alumni Invite that also ranked in the top five all-time at Emporia State. The senior placed fifth in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 21.48 seconds. It is the best time in the MIAA this year and ranks seventh best in Division II. He also ran a 6.75-second 60-meter dash in the prelims, before clocking another provisional time of 6.80 seconds to place fourth in the finals. His 6.75 prelim time currently ties for the eighth-fastest in Division II. Seamster is now ranked fifth all-time at Emporia State in both the 60 meters and 200 meters.
Griouard Weddington, Pittsburg State
Griouard Weddington posted the fifth fastest time in NCAA Division II early in the season with his fast time of 6.73 seconds in the 60 meters at the Crimson & Gold Invitational Saturday (Dec. 6). The race was the collegiate debut for the redshirt freshman from Grandview, Mo.
Aziz Mohammed, Northwest Missouri
Aziz Mohammed put up the nation's No. 6-ranked time in the 3,000 meters at the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic. Mohammed placed second with a time of 8:09.39, which also ranks as the fourth-best time in the Bearcats’ program history.
NOTABLE FIELD PERFORMANCES:
Justin Forde, Washburn
Justin Forde won the triple jump at the Washburn Alumni Invitational with a meet record, winning the event with 14.98 meters (49-01.75) and earning an NCAA provisional mark to pick up the Ichabods' lone win of the afternoon. His jump is the second-longest mark in NCAA Division II so far this season.
Gabe Ford, Missouri Southern
Gabe Ford placed first in the men’s weight throw at the Crimson & Gold Invitational with a mark of 19.85 meters (65-01.5). The mark is a personal best for the redshirt junior and NCAA qualifying performance that currently ranks sixth-best in Division II.
Frank Sparks, Northwest Missouri
Frank Sparks picked up a pair of NCAA Division II provisional times/marks in the long jump and 60-meter hurdles at the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic over the weekend. Sparks placed third in the long jump with a leap of 7.21 meters (23-08.00), which ranks as the tenth-best jump in Division II this season. The sophomore also notched a third-place effort in the 60-meter hurdles with a top qualifying time of 8.13 seconds before placing third in the finals.
ALSO NOMINATED:
Track Nominations: Wimach Gilo [Missouri Western], Phillip Jefferson [Missouri Southern], Nakari Morrical-Palmer [Fort Hays State]
Field Nominations: Drew Tolar [Fort Hays State], Zach Sulzen-Watson [Emporia State]
ABOUT BEYNON:
Beynon Sports, a Tarkett Sports company, is a leading North American company specializing in designing, manufacturing and installing high-performance synthetic athletic surfaces, particularly track and field, but also for tennis, pickleball and other indoor courts, known for their speed, durability, and focus on sustainability. They provide surfaces for elite venues and community facilities, and meet strict International Association of Athletics Federations standards.
INDOOR WEEK ONE TRACK: Nolan Vancauwemberghe, Central Missouri
INDOOR WEEK ONE FIELD: Drew Wilhite, Pittsburg State