Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue Capture Big Ten Weekly Indoor Track & Field Awards
Wolverines’ Rynda, Golden Gophers’ Frank, and Boilermakers’ Becker and Vanos earn this week’s accolades
Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Justin Becker, Purdue
Sr. – Fort Wayne, Ind. – Carroll – Major: Management
• Posted two of the nation’s fastest sprint times (and quickest in the Big Ten) this year at the Gene Edmonds Invitational on Jan. 8
• Covered the 60-meter final in 6.88 seconds (No. 7 nationally) and went 22.08 for the 200-meter final, the country’s sixth-fastest time in that event this year
• Earns his first career Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honor
• Last Purdue Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Samson Colebrooke (Dec. 11, 2019)
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Aurora Rynda, Michigan
Sr. – Toronto, Ontario – Lawrence Park – Major: Movement Science
• Recorded the nation’s fastest 600-meter time this season (1:29.35) at the season-opening Wolverine Invitational on Jan. 8
• Currently holds the fastest time in the Big Ten at 600 meters this year by 3.5 seconds
• Receives her second career Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honor
• Last Michigan Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week: Meg Darmofal (Jan. 15, 2020)
Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Johnny Vanos, Purdue
Sr. – Forest, Ontario – St. Patrick’s – Major: Kinesiology
• Claimed the weight throw title Jan. 8 at the Gene Edmonds Invitational with a personal-best mark of 20.65 meters (67 feet, 9 inches)
• His mark was the best in the Big Ten and ranks No. 6 nationally this season
• Secures his first career Indoor Field Athlete of the Week selection
• Last Purdue Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week: Jah Strange (Dec. 11, 2019)
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Shelby Frank, Minnesota
So. – Grand Forks, N.D. – Red River – Major: Kinesiology
• Won the weight throw at last weekend’s Minnesota Open with a personal-best throw of 20.03 meters (65 feet, 8.75 inches), improving on her previous lifetime best by more than 1.5 meters (four feet)
• Ranks sixth in the nation and second in the Big Ten this year
• Garners her first career Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award
• Last Minnesota Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week: Nayoka Clunis (Dec. 11, 2019)
2021-22 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week
Dec. 15
Men’s
T: Rikkoi Brathwaite, Sr., IND
F: Alex Talley, Sr., NEB
Women’s
T: LaSarah Hargrove, So., IOWA
F: Axelina Johansson, Fr., NEB
Jan. 12
Men’s
T: Justin Becker, Sr., PUR
F: Johnny Vanos, Sr., PUR
Women’s
T: Aurora Rynda, Sr., MICH
F: Shelby Frank, So., MINN
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