M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (April 7, 2025)
NEW ORLEANS — This season just keeps getting better.
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week for April 7, 2025.
- NCAA Division I Men – Mykolas Alekna, California
- co-NCAA Division I Women – Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico
- co-NCAA Division I Women – Manuela Rotundo, Georgia
- NCAA Division II Men – Tyson Williams, Johnson C. Smith
- NCAA Division II Women – Erika Beistle, Grand Valley State
- NCAA Division III Men – Adam Strouf, UW-Eau Claire
- NCAA Division III Women – Megan Bell, Rochester (N.Y.)
- NAIA Men – Mustapha Bokpin, Cumberland (Tenn.)
- NAIA Women – Briana Campbell, Life (Ga.)
- NJCAA Division I Men – Jayden Holdsworth, Salt Lake (Utah) CC
- NJCAA Division I Women – Angy Salado Fernandez, Salt Lake (Utah) CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Nathan Ciarlette, Joliet (Ill.) JC
- NJCAA Division III Women – Khala Gray-Matto, SUNY Broome CC
Find out more about each of these athletes by scrolling below.
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to at least 12 collegiate track & field athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA).
Nominations are open to the public. Coaches and sports information directors are encouraged to nominate their student-athletes; as are student-athletes, their families and friends, and fans of their programs. Nominated athletes are noticed before those athletes found through searching TFRRS.
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Mykolas Alekna, California
Junior | Throws
Vilnius, Lithuania
There have now been four 70-meter plus discus throws in collegiate history.
Mykolas Alekna, the current world record holder in the event, owns all of them.
Alekna opened his season with a pair of missiles this past weekend at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkeley, California. The Cal standout launched the disc 70.09m (229-11) on his second attempt and then 70.01m (252-8) on his sixth and final attempt. Those are the third- and fourth-farthest marks in collegiate history behind two of his own from two years ago.
Now, Alekna turns his attention to the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational this weekend in Ramona, Oklahoma – the site of his world record-breaking 74.35m (243-11) throw last year.
This is the fifth time in his career that Alekna has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Alekna was previously honored twice in 2022 on April 11 and May 2 and twice again in 2023 on March 22 and May 3.
co-NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico
Freshman | Distance
Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya
What can’t Pamela Kosgei do?
Kosgei notched her second, second-best all-time mark in as many weeks when she went 9:15.93 in the steeplechase this past weekend at the Stanford Invitational. The New Mexico freshman phenom just missed Doris Lemngole’s year-old CR of 9:15.24. Perhaps most impressive about that effort was that it was done solo: Kosgei won by nearly 45 seconds.
The Kenyan freshman opened her outdoor season the previous week with a 31:02.73 clocking over 10,000 meters at the Sound Running TEN. That was the second fastest performance in collegiate history behind 2024 The Bowerman winner Parker Valby’s CR of 30:50.43.
This is the second week in a row that Kosgei has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Kosgei is the first back-to-back award winner in NCAA DI history.
co-NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Manuela Rotundo, Georgia
Freshman | Throws
Paysandú, Uruguay
First one, best one.
Manuela Rotundo launched the javelin 64.17m (210-7) on her first attempt of the competition this past weekend at the Florida Relays and moved up to No. 2 in collegiate history behind two-time NCAA champion Rhema Otabor. That throw, which also leapfrogged teammate and former M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Lianna Davidson in the record book, was just 2cm shorter than Otabor’s winning effort from the 2024 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
This is the sixth time in program history – and the second week in a row – that a female athlete from Georgia has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. It is also just the second time in NCAA DI award history that a program has had different athletes earn national weekly honors in consecutive weeks (South Carolina, 2024).
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Tyson Williams, Johnson C. Smith
Freshman | Sprints
Charlotte, NC
How much faster can he go?
A valid question after Tyson Williams’ wind-legal 20.17 200-meter effort this past weekend at the High Point VertKlasse Meeting. The freshman, competing for Johnson C. Smith, sprinted up the NCAA DII performance list to No. 3 all-time. Williams also snuck into the top-25 of the 100 meters, running 10.21.
The newcomer has been making quite a name for himself since the indoor season where he took home his first career national title in the 200 meters. Remarkably, he isn’t the fastest freshman to come through the NCAA DII ranks, as Benjamin Azamati of West Texas A&M holds that label… for now.
This marks the first time in program history that an athlete from Johnson C. Smith has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Erika Beistle, Grand Valley State
Senior | Throws
Rodney, Michigan
Erika Beistle shook the very foundation of collegiate track & field this weekend.
The Grand Valley State senior hurled the disc 66.63m (218-7), smashing the previous NCAA DII record of 61.35m (201-4) by more than five meters! She solidified her place in collegiate history as well, as the mark gives her the title of fourth best performer all-time. On a global level, Beistle is currently positioned No. 2 in the world behind Valarie Allman. Heard of her? Yeah, that’s probably because she’s the Paris Olympics Gold Medalist.
The field series that Beistle strung together was witness to even more highlights. On her fifth and sixth throws she went 62.76m (205-11) and 61.41m (201-5), respectively, topping the previous NCAA DII record a total of three times in one day. Beistle has been on a tear since her fourth place finish at the 2024 Olympic Trials and this goes to show she’s got no plans to stop anytime soon.
This marks the fourth time a female athlete from Grand Valley State has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Beistle joins Rachael Walters, Ellianne Kimes, and Judith Essemiah.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Adam Strouf, UW-Eau Claire
Senior | Throws
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Adam Strouf picked up where he left off during the indoor season.
Strouf, who recently won the NCAA indoor shot put title, took the NCAA DIII lead in the outdoor version with his 17.59m (57-8½) throw this past weekend at the Ashton May Invitational. It was a strong competition, as each of the top-three marks on the seasonal Descending Order List were registered in its midst: teammate Yakob Ekoeu is No. 2 at 17.49m (57-4¾); Karter Rashke of UW-Stout is No. 3 at 17.08m (56-0½).
Other than etching his name at the top of the seasonal Descending Order List in the shot put, Strouf PR’d in both the discus and hammer at 43.52m (142-9) and 52.15m (171-1), respectively.
This is the fourth time in program history that a male athlete from UW-Eau Claire has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Stouf joins 2021 honoree Marcus Weaver and two-time 2019 honoree David Kornack in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Megan Bell, Rochester (N.Y.)
Senior | Sprints
Wynantskill, New York
Have yourself a weekend, Megan Bell!
Bell racked up two division-leading marks at the Colonial Relays this past weekend in Williamsburg, Virginia. The senior went PR 54.77 over 400 meters on Friday and then doubled down with a PR 2:05.34 effort over 800 meters on Saturday. That 800-meter mark is historic, putting Bell sixth on the NCAA DIII all-time chart behind a five legendary athletes.
This is the second time in program history that a female athlete from Rochester (N.Y.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Bell joins 2022 honoree Madeline O’Connell in that regard.
NAIA MEN – Mustapha Bokpin, Cumberland (Tenn.)
Freshman | Sprints
Ghana
Mustapha Bokpin continued to shake up the NAIA sprint lists.
At the Tennessee Invitational he took over the NAIA qualifying lead in the 100 meters, clocking a wind-aided 10.13 for fifth place to move to No. 9 on the all-time NAIA list under all conditions in the event. Among all collegians, in all conditions this season, the performance ranks No. 11.
Bokpin has the year’s fastest NAIA wind-legal time in the 100 – 10.28 – as well as in the 200 at 20.49 from earlier this season. Indoors he was runner-up in the 60 at the NAIA Indoor Championships and registered a best of 6.60.
This is the first time that a male athlete from Cumberland has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season.
NAIA WOMEN – Briana Campbell, Life (Ga.)
Freshman | Hurdles/Sprints
Jamaica
Briana Campbell added her name again to NAIA record book – this time with her first entry in the outdoor chapter after winning the 100-meter hurdles at the Saturday’s Emory Dooley Elite in 13.25.
That mark took down the 13.28 NAIA record set in 2023 by Salieci Myles of William Carey (Miss.) as she now owns records outdoors and indoors after her 8.09 to win the 60 hurdles at the NAIA Indoor Championships.
Campbell is also a threat in the sprints – she won the 100 at the Emory Dooley Elite in 11.49 to take the NAIA seasonal lead in that event and is No. 2 in the 200 at 23.64, which is also the year’s fastest wind-legal time among NAIA athletes. Indoors she won the 200 title and was second in the 60 in addition to her victory in the 60 hurdles.
This is the second time that a female athlete from Life has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Campbell joins Jennifer Batu (2023) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Jayden Holdsworth, Salt Lake (Utah) CC
Sophomore | Distances
Orem, Utah
The final lap made a huge difference in the 5000 meters for Jayden Holdsworth in his section at the Stanford Invitational on Friday.
Holdsworth was in ninth place at that point, but he clocked the fastest last lap at 58.04 seconds to moved up to fifth with a time of 14:00.29 – good enough to become No. 5 on the all-time NJCAA list. It’s the second major performance this year for Holdsworth, who won the NJCAA Indoor 3000 title at 8:06.32 in early March.
Holdsworth was also important for the Bruins in the fall, finishing as the team’s No. 5 runner in helping Salt Lake to its first men’s NJCAA DI team title.
This is the second time that a male athlete from Salt Lake CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Holdsworth joins JaQuavious Harris (2024) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Angy Salado Fernandez, Salt Lake (Utah) CC
Sophomore | Distances
Puebla, Mexico
Angy Salado Fernandez made her presence known in the 10,000 meters at the Mike Fanelli Classic at San Francisco State on Thursday night.
Salado Fernandez finished third – highest among JUCO athletes – in crossing the finish line with a time of 35:35.80. That was a PR by over three minutes as she climbed up to No. 6 on the all-time NJCAA list with the fastest time since 2021.
Salado Fernandez has been a crucial part of the Bruins’ success this year. She was Salt Lake’s third runner in placing 11th in the fall as the Bruins won a second-straight NJCAA DI cross country title. Three days later she was fourth overall in the NJCAA half marathon as SLCC claimed that crown as well.
This is the first time that a female athlete from Salt Lake CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Nathan Ciarlette, Joliet (Ill.) JC
Freshman | Mid-Distances
Joliet, Illinois
Nathan Ciarlette added NJCAA DIII seasonal leads in two events (he now has three) at the Chicagoland Championships over the weekend at Elmhurst, Illinois.
In Friday’s 1500 meters he clocked 3:57.63, a time that would have won any of the NJCAA DIII Championships since at least 2013. That’s also intrinsically faster than his indoor mile of 4:17.39 in February that’s the fastest-ever time known by an NJCAA DIII athlete on an indoor flat track.
Ciarlette followed on Saturday with a runner-up finish in the 3000 meters, a distance rarely run outdoors among NJCAA athletes. His time of 8:32.63 makes him No. 5 all-time outdoors among NJCAA runners across all divisions. Ciarlette also leads the NJCAA DIII 800 meters at 1:54.79 from earlier this season.
This is the first time that an athlete from Joliet JC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Ciarlette was honored earlier this year during the indoor season.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Khala Gray-Matto, SUNY Broome CC
Freshman | Long Jump
Binghamton, New York
Like the rest of SUNY Broome CC’s track & field team, Khala Gray-Matto was excited for her first track & field meet of the season Saturday at the Cortland Red Dragon Open.
After a first-round foul in the long jump, Gray-Matto settled down for a 5.39m (17-8¼) leap that no one else in the competition would exceed.
Any of Gray-Matto’s five measured jumps would have been long enough to win, and her farthest came in Round 4, going 5.47m (17-11½) in Round 4 as both of her top-2 efforts would have been long enough to win three of the last four NJCAA DIII Championships.
This is the first time that an athlete from SUNY Broome CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season.