Ducks’ Birnbaum and Smith, Nittany Lions’ Dwyer and Huskies’ Rhoads earn laurels

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of April 1-8, 2026.

Co-Track Athletes of the Week
Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon
Junior – Distance – Rapid City, S.Dak. – Major: Business Administration

• Won the invitational section of the 5,000m at the Staford Invitational
• His time of 13:19.73 leads the NCAA and is the No. 6 time in Oregon history
• This time also bests his previous PR by more than 12 seconds
• Marks Oregon’s first Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award

Ajani Dwyer, Penn State
Sophomore – Sprints – Sewell, N.J. – Major: Accounting

• Won the Florida Relays 100m with a record-breaking time of 10.06
• His time was a program record, beating Cheickna Traore by 0.09 seconds
• Dwyer’s second consecutive Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award this season

Field Athlete of the Week
James Rhoads, Washington
Senior – Pole Vault – Pleasantville, Ohio – Major: M.S. Information Management

• Won the Texas Relays pole vault title with a clearance of 5.75m (18-10 ¼)
• His mark was a Washington school record and is No. 2 in the NCAA this season
• Rhoads owns both the Washinton indoor and outdoor school records
• Last Washington Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award: Scott Toney (April 2, 2025)

Freshman of the Week
Ben Smith, Oregon
RS Freshman – Throws – Fremont, Wis. – Major: Undecided

• Won the elite section of the shot put at the Triton Invitational
• His mark of 20.02m (64-8 ¼) is second in the Big Ten and third in the NCAA
• Smith is the sixth man in program history to throw 20m outdoors
• Last Oregon Outdoor Freshman of the Week Award: Kobe Lawrence (May 7, 2025)

2026 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week

March 25
Track: Prior Ochonogor, IOWA
Field: Emmanuel Njoku, IOWA/Brian O’Sullivan, RU
Freshman: John Caleb, MINN

April 1
Track: Ajani Dwyer, PSU
Field: Racquil Broderick, USC
Freshman: Hencu Lamberts, NEB

April 8
Track: Simeon Birnbaum, ORE/Ajani Dwyer, PSU
Field: James Rhoads, WASH
Freshman: Ben Smith, ORE