KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new men’s Track and Field Athletes of the Week from week three of the 2026 outdoor season, presented by
Beynon – the official track surface of the MIAA. Central Missouri’s Nolan Vancauwemberghe was named the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week and Missouri Southern’s Cedric Pearson was named the Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week.
OUTDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Nolan Vancauwemberghe, Central Missouri
Nolan Vancauwemberghe ran the second-fastest 110-meter hurdles time in school history and NCAA Division II this season, posting a personal best time of 13.77 in the men's 110m hurdles prelims at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays last Friday (Apr. 3) in Austin, Texas. The freshman was the only NCAA Division II runner to advance to the final after finishing eighth in the prelims. The men’s 110-meter hurdles final was unable to compete due to inclement weather in Austin.
OUTDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Cedric Pearson, Missouri Southern
Cedric Pearson swept the men’s shot put and discus competitions at the 18th Annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic over the weekend. Both marks were NCAA qualifying standards. His winning marks – 61-10.25 (18.38 meters) in the shot put and 184-3 (56.15 meters) in the discus throw – both rank third in Division II this season. Pearson currently leads Division II in the shot put with his season-best throw of 61-7.75 (18.79 meters), set on March 27 at the ESU Spring Open.
NOTABLE TRACK PERFORMANCES:
Tyrone Jackson, Pittsburg State
Tryone Jackson posted the No. 7 mark in NCAA Division II this season in the 110-meter hurdles with his fast time of 13.99 seconds in the 18th Annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic this past Saturday (Apr. 4). The junior from Mayfield, Ohio, was the top collegian in the competition, finishing behind only 2025 World Athletics Champion (and former Gorilla) Cordell Tinch. Jackson is now the fifth-fastest hurdler in Pitt State history.
Jayden Michaelis, Fort Hays State
Jayden Michaelis won the 400-meter hurdles at the Midwest Classic in Emporia, Kan., on Friday (Apr. 3) with a time of 53.28. His time was good for second-best in the MIAA this season and the second-fastest time at FHSU during the Division II era. The freshman also placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles after crossing the line in 15.31.
NOTABLE FIELD PERFORMANCES:
Luke Brachle, Nebraska Kearney
Luke Brachle won the high jump at the Midwest Classic in Emporia with the second-best mark in Division II this season, clearing 7-1.75 (2.18 meters). His mark tied the UNK old school record, which was recently broken by his teammate Nolan Studley (7-3, 2.21 meters). Brachle also won the men’s 110-hurdles at the Midwest Classic in 14.42.
Grayson Smith, Pittsburg State
Grayson Smith posted the fourth-best mark in NCAA Division II this season in the pole vault with his winning effort of 17 feet, 4.5 inches (5.3 meters) in the 18th Annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic last Saturday (Apr. 4). The redshirt sophomore from Webb City, Mo, recorded a personal-best jump and climbed to No. 2 on Pitt State's all-time top 10 list in the discipline.
Brooks Lowe, Emporia State
Brooks Lowe unleashed a throw of 229-02 (69.85 meters) on his second-to-last throw to pass MIAA season leader Rylan Basart of Nebraska Kearney and win the men's javelin at the Midwest Classic this past weekend. The provisional qualifier mark is a personal best for the junior, ranks fourth all-time at Emporia State, and currently ranks sixth in Division II. Four of his throws on the day were over 217-9 (66.38 meters).
ALSO NOMINATED:
Track Nominations: Caleb Leach [Missouri Southern], Pau Valderrama [Missouri Western], Jake Muller [Washburn]
Field Nominations: Jackson Rumford [Fort Hays State], Ian Suther [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 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
OUTDOOR WEEK TWO TRACK: Drew Atkins, Northwest Missouri
OUTDOOR WEEK TWO FIELD: Nolan Studley, Nebraska Kearney
OUTDOOR WEEK THREE TRACK: Nolan Vancauwemberghe, Central Missouri
OUTDOOR WEEK THREE FIELD: Cedric Pearson, Missouri Southern