KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its first men’s Track and Field Athletes of the Week from the 2026 outdoor season, presented by
Beynon – the official track surface of the MIAA. The 2026 NCAA Division II outdoor track and field seasons officially began last week with MIAA programs returning to competition only a week after the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships. Northwest Missouri’s Aziz Mohammed was named the first Track Athlete of the Week and Pittsburg State’s Jack Haukap was named the first Field Athlete of the Week of the 2026 outdoor season.
INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Aziz Mohammed, Northwest Missouri
Aziz Mohammed gained the nation's fastest time and set the school record in the 1,500-meter run at the Spire Distance Carnival in Leavenworth, Kan. The senior placed first with a winning time of 3:40.69 and earned an NCAA Division II provisional time in his first outdoor meet of the season as he edged out Pittsburg State's Dylan Sprecker at the finish. Sprecker was the NCAA Division II national champion in the indoor mile.
INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jack Haukap, Pittsburg State
Jack Haukap unleashed the top throw in NCAA Division II in the hammer throw in the opening weekend of the 2026 outdoor season. The Garden Plain, Kan., native tossed the implement 216 feet, 0 inches (65.83 meters) to pick up the victory in the discipline at the UCM Invitational last Friday (Mar. 20) at Warrensburg, Mo.
NOTABLE TRACK PERFORMANCES:
Phillip Jefferson, Missouri Southern
Phillip Jefferson won the 400-meter hurdles at the 2026 Miner Invitational with a personal best and NCAA qualifying mark of 51.84. With the mark, he now ranks second all-time in Missouri Southern program history for the event. He also ranks third in NCAA Division II for 400-meter hurdles to begin the outdoor season.
Dylan Sprecker, Pittsburg State
Dylan Sprecker turned in the second-fastest time in NCAA Division II in the 1,500 meters on the opening weekend of the 2026 outdoor season. Coming off capturing the national championship in the mile the week prior, Sprecker (Gypsum, Kan.) clocked in 3:40.70 in the 1,500 meters at the University of Saint Mary Spire Distance Carnival Friday (Mar. 20) at Leavenworth, Kan.
NOTABLE FIELD PERFORMANCES:
Rylan Basart, Nebraska Kearney
Rylan Basart placed first in the javelin last Saturday (March 21) at the TCU Alumni Invite with a throw of 219 feet, 4 inches (66.86 meters). He is now ranked sixth in Division II in the discipline.
ALSO NOMINATED:
Track Nominations: Ariel Kerr [Central Missouri], Israel Domeh [Emporia State], Noah Morenz [Fort Hays State]
Field Nominations: Garrett Strange [Missouri Southern], Brooks Lowe [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 for track and field, but also for tennis, pickleball, and indoor courts, known for their speed, durability, and focus on sustainability using innovative materials like cashew oil. 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
INDOOR WEEK SEVEN TRACK: Tyrone Jackson, Pittsburg State
INDOOR WEEK SEVEN FIELD: Grayson Smith, Pittsburg State
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OUTDOOR WEEK ONE TRACK: Tyrone Jackson, Pittsburg State
OUTDOOR WEEK ONE FIELD: Grayson Smith, Pittsburg State