KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its first weekly women's track and field athlete honors of the 2025 outdoor season. Taking the first honors is Paige Mullen of Pittsburg State selected as MIAA Track Athlete of the Week while Nebraska Kearney's Lily Novacek was named the MIAA Field Athlete of the Week.
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Paige Mullen, Pittsburg State
Off to a hot start in her sophomore campaign, Paige Mullen recorded the fastest time in Division II in the 5,000 meters run at the WashU Distance Carnival in St. Louis over the weekend. The Overland Park, Kansas, native clocked a personal best of 16:11.62 to set a new program record for the Gorillas. It's a huge jump from Mullen's performance at the WashU Distance Carnival last year, with over a minute and a half improvement from her time of 17:41.01. Mullen continues the success of her indoor season after placing ninth in the 3,000 meter run and as a member of the distance medley relay that came in runner-up at nationals.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lily Novacek, Nebraska Kearney
Lily Novacek launched a nation's best toss of 63.92 meters (209-8 feet) in the hammer throw at the Central Nebraska Challenge on Friday (March 28). With the mark, the Kearney native broke a 25-year-old Loper record by almost 10 feet with the previous best at 56.845 meters (194-7.50 feet) set at the 2000 RMAC Championship. The redshirt junior's throw is nine feet further than the nation's next best heave. Novacek is coming off an eighth place finish in the weight throw at this year's indoor national track and field championship and took the final Indoor MIAA Field Athlete of the Week honor of this season.
NOTABLE TRACK PERFORMANCES:
Ashyiria Savage, Missouri Southern
Setting a new personal best while winning the 100 meter hurdles was Ashyiria Savage's NCAA Qualifying time of 14.08 seconds at the Southwest Baptist Invitational. The senior was an 2024 Indoor MIAA Champion, taking the gold in the 60 meter hurdles.
NOTABLE FIELD PERFORMANCES:
Addison Throckmorton, Central Missouri
Addison Throckmorton begins her rookie outdoor season by breaking the Central Missouri javelin throw school record and securing the second-best distance in Division II. The freshman propelled the javelin 47.02 meters (154-3 feet) at the Southwest Baptist Invitational on Saturday, winning the event by almost eight feet.
Illaria Villa, Washburn
MIAA Women Field Athletes broke school records and posted top-nation marks all across the weekend as Ilaria Villa added her own in the discus at the Emporia State Relays. With a winning throw of 51.73 meters (169-08 feet), the sophomore now sits second in the event in Division II standings. The Italian placed ninth in discus at the Division II outdoor championship in 2023 with her then-previous best of 47.69 meters (156-5 feet).
Keilee Johnson, Missouri Southern
Conference javelin throwers dominated the weekend with Keilee Johnson securing the top mark in Division II with a distance of 50.12 meters (164-5 feet) at the Emporia State Relays. The junior was just shy of her personal best of 51.41 meters (168-8 feet), set at the Southwest Baptist Invitational on March 31, 2023. Johnson placed sixth in the event at the outdoor national championship last season.
ALSO NOMINATED:
Track Nominations: Madison Nash [Missouri Western], Abigael Reid [Emporia State]
Field Nominations: Kyla Davis [Pittsburg State], Emma Slade [Fort Hays], Luisarys Toledo [Northwest Missouri], Mia Manley [Emporia State]
2024-25 MIAA WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK:
OUTDOOR WEEK ONE TRACK: Paige Mullen, Pittsburg State
OUTDOOR WEEK ONE FIELD: Lily Novacek, Nebraska Kearney
INDOOR WEEK ONE TRACK: Marie Dea, Northwest Missouri
INDOOR WEEK ONE FIELD: Mele Taula, Emporia State
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INDOOR WEEK TWO TRACK: Marie Dea, Northwest Missouri
INDOOR WEEK TWO FIELD: Makenzie Garr, Missouri Western
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INDOOR WEEK THREE TRACK: Kayvon Nubine, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK THREE FIELD: Isabelle Peters, Pittsburg State
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INDOOR WEEK FOUR TRACK: Kayvon Nubine, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK FOUR FIELD: Alex Hart, Washburn
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INDOOR WEEK FIVE TRACK: Chloe Saenz, Northwest Missouri
INDOOR WEEK FIVE FIELD: Kyla Davis, Pittsburg State
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INDOOR WEEK SIX TRACK: Joy Udo-Gabriel, Missouri Southern
INDOOR WEEK SIX FIELD: Alex Hart, Washburn
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INDOOR WEEK SEVEN TRACK: Joy Udo-Gabriel, Missouri Southern
INDOOR WEEK SEVEN FIELD: Lily Novacek, Nebraska Kearney