KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its sixth 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. Northwest Missouri's Riley Witt was selected as the Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and Pittsburg State's Drake Stapleton was named the Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.
INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Riley Witt, Northwest Missouri
Riley Witt set a new Bearcat record and broke the four-minute barrier in the mile at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational, held in Boston, Mass., last Friday, Feb. 13. Witt posted the nation's fifth-best time in the mile in 3:59.07, as he put his name atop the Bearcat record book. He was the top NCAA Division II finisher in the event.
INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Drake Stapleton, Pittsburg State
Drake Stapleton recorded a pair of personal best throws in the shot put and the weight throw at the Russ Jewett Indoor Gorilla Classic Feb. 13-14. The redshirt sophomore from Caney, Kan., posted a best mark of 59-6.75 (18.15 meters) in the shot put and 65-8.25 (20.02 meters) in the weight throw. His shot put mark ranks No. 9 in NCAA Division II this season and fourth all-time at Pitt State, while his weight throw mark ranks No. 14 in Division II and sixth in the Gorillas’ record books.
NOTABLE TRACK PERFORMANCES:
Nate Watson, Pittsburg State
Nate Watson turned in a season-best time in the 400 meters at the 11th Annual Russ Jewett Indoor Gorillas Classic last Saturday (Feb. 14). The St. Louis, Mo., native was clocked in 46.98 seconds, the seventh-fastest time in NCAA Division II this season. Watson also helped Pitt State's 4x400 meter relay team clock a winning time of 3:08.20 on Saturday. The Gorillas’ time is good for the third-fastest 4x400 meter relay time in Division II this season.
NOTABLE FIELD PERFORMANCES:
Josiah Ball, Fort Hays State
Josiah Ball placed second in the pole vault at the 11th Annual Russ Jewett Indoor Gorilla Classic after clearing a personal-best 16-10 (5.13 meters). That national-qualifying performance ranks 12th in Division II this season and is good for fifth best at FHSU during the program's Division II era.
Drake Willenborg, Missouri Southern
Drake Willenborg finished third in the weight throw at the 11th Annual Russ Jewett Indoor Gorilla Classic, posting a career-best matching throw of 19.96 meters (65-6). The distance ranks 15th in Division II this season. This was also Willenborg’s second time hitting the NCAA Qualifying Mark in the past three competitions.
ALSO NOMINATED:
Track Nominations: Carter Hohlen [Nebraska Kearney], Avrey Albright [Fort Hays State], Donald Kibet [Washburn], Phillip Jefferson [Missouri Southern]
Field Nominations: Sam Boettcher [Nebraska Kearney], Connor Deters [Emporia State], Ransford Nti [Washburn]
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
INDOOR WEEK TWO TRACK: Aziz Mohammed, Northwest Missouri
INDOOR WEEK TWO FIELD: Adam Wooldridge, Washburn
INDOOR WEEK THREE TRACK: Caden Williams, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK THREE FIELD: Xavier Byers, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK FOUR TRACK: Ilias Garcia, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK FOUR FIELD: Justin Forde, Washburn
INDOOR WEEK FIVE TRACK: Ilias Garcia, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK FIVE FIELD: Justin Forde, Washburn
INDOOR WEEK SIX TRACK: Riley Witt, Northwest Missouri
INDOOR WEEK SIX FIELD: Drake Stapleton, Pittsburg State