DALLAS – Liberty’s Troy McKnight, UTEP’s Marissa Simpson, Jakub Belik and Juan Leal and FIU’s Michaelle Valentin and Arndis Oskarsdottir have earned Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week honors.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week – Troy McKnight – Liberty – R-SR. – Dallas, Texas
Making his Liberty debut, McKnight placed second in the men’s 100-meter race at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge. The redshirt senior clocked a time of 10.37 seconds. He was also part of the Liberty squad who placed third in the 4x100 relay. He currently ranks No. 2 in CUSA for the men’s 100-meter race and No. 1 in the men’s 4x100 relay. McKnight ranks No. 9 in program history in the men’s 100-meter run after one meet as a Flame.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week – Marissa Simpson – UTEP – SR. – Kellits, Jamaica
Simpson leaped to a victory and set a career best in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, with a time of 12.88 seconds at the Willie Williams Classic. The senior beat out 30 other competitors on her way to posting the second-best time in program history. It was Simpson’s sixth career victory in the event. The senior Miner also clocked a personal best (23.82) in the women’s 200, placing fifth. Simpson also ran a leg of the women’s 4x100 relay which took first, clocking a 44.02 (second best time in school history). Simpson ranks first nationally in the women’s 100-meter and ranks second in conference in the women’s 200-meter, while the women’s 4x100 relay team ranks first in CUSA and fifth nationally.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week – Jakub Belik – UTEP – SR. – Jaromer, Czech Republic
Belik finished first in the men’s high jump at 2.10 meters (6-10.75) at the Willie Williams Classic. The senior Miner currently ranks No. 1 in Conference
USA and is tied for 14th nationally.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week – Michaelle Valentin – FIU – SR. – Apopka, Fla.
Valentin earned her fourth CUSA weekly honor of the year after her performance at the Hurricane Invite, hosted by Miami. Valentin earned top-three finishes in each event she competed in this weekend: first in women’s discus, second in women’s hammer and third in women’s shot put. She currently leads the NCAA in women’s hammer throw after securing a new school record (67.51 meters). She also ranks seventh in the nation in women’s discus after her meet-winning 57.54 meter throw and recorded her best-ever throw in shot put of 13.50 meters.
Men’s Freshman of the Week – Juan Leal – UTEP – FR. – El Paso, Texas
Leal made his collegiate outdoor debut in the men’s 1500-meter run as the freshman clocked in 3:53.20 at the Willie Williams Classic. The El Paso native finished fourth out of 44 competitors and currently ranks first in CUSA in the men’s 1500-meter run.
Women’s Freshman of the Week – Arndis Oskarsdottir – FIU – FR. – Iceland
In her first meet as a Panther, Oskarsdottir threw a personal-best of 51.07 meters to win javelin at the Hurricane Invite, hosted by Miami. Her mark this weekend ranks No. 1 in CUSA, ninth overall nationally, and third-best all-time at FIU.
2025 CUSA Male Track Athlete of the Week
M18 N/A
M25 Troy McKnight, Liberty
2025 CUSA Male Field Athlete of the Week
M18 N/A
M25 Jakub Belik, UTEP
2025 CUSA Male Freshman of the Week
M18 N/A
M25 Juan Leal, UTEP
2025 CUSA Female Track Athlete of the Week
M18 Bethelhem Manzano Jimeno, Jax State
M25 Marissa Simpson, UTEP
2025 CUSA Female Field Athlete of the Week
M18 N/A
M25 Michaelle Valentin, FIU
2025 CUSA Female Freshman of the Week
M18 N/A
M25 Arndis Oskarsdottir, FIU