BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for outdoor track & field and golf Tuesday. Student-athletes from Bethel, Carleton, Gustavus, St. Catherine, Saint John's, and St. Scholastica claimed the Conference's weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the spring season, team sports (baseball, softball, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (golf and indoor track & field) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
To view each sport's 2023-24 Athlete of the Week home page, navigate to the 2023-24 Athlete of the Week archive for complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Landen Liu
Bethel University
So.
Blaine, Minn. | Centennial
Landen Liu set a program record in the 100-meter dash with a winning time of 10.34 at the Royals' home invitational on 4/13. Liu's time is the fastest in NCAA Division III this season and the 13th-fastest in D-III history.
MIAC Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Jackson McDowell
Saint John's University
Jr.
Centennial, Colo. | Arapahoe
Jackson McDowell won the high jump with a personal-best mark of 2.05 meters (6' 8.75") at the Minnesota State Open on 4/12-13. The mark is ninth-best in NCAA Division III this season and fell 0.04 from the program record of 2.09 meters set in 2014.
MIAC Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Megan Geraets
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr.
Mankato, Minn. | East
Megan Geraets took first in the 200 meters with a time of 24.49, setting a new meet and stadium record at the Bethel Invitational on 4/13. Geraets won the event with the second-best all-conditions time in program history, which ranks among the top 20 in D-III this year. Geraets was also a part of the winning 4x100 relay team that took first with a new season-best and MIAC-leading time of 48.59. In addition, she set a new meet and stadium record in the long jump at 5.67 meters (18' 7.25"), which ranks eighth in the nation. Geraets was the only athlete to win three events at the meet.
MIAC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Lily Beneke
The College of St. Scholastica
Sr.
Green Isle, Minn. | Sibley East
Lily Beneke finished first in the hammer throw and broke the facility and meet records with a toss of 56.20m (184' 4") at the Minnesota State Open on 4/13. Beneke now holds the fourth-best mark in NCAA Division III this season.
MIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week
Sam Higaki
Carleton College
Fy.
San Mateo, Calif. | Aragon
Sam Higaki was the medalist at the Augsburg Spring Invitational on 4/13-14, leading the Knights to their first team victory of the season. Higaki started the weekend with an ever-par 72 but carded a final round 65 - thanks to eight birdies, including birdies on his final three holes - to capture his first collegiate victory by three strokes. His 65 is the lowest 18-hole round score in the modern era for Carleton men's golf and the best in the MIAC since 2021. Carleton posted what is believed to be the lowest team score in program history (291) on 4/13 and bested that figure by six strokes on 4/14.
MIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Laura Beltman
Bethel University
Jr.
Orange City, Iowa | Unity Christian
Laura Beltman carded a nine-over-par 153 to win the individual title at the Gustie Spring Invite on 4/13-14 for her first career medalist finish. Beltman posted a 77 in round one and shaved one shot off in round two to lead the Royals to a team victory.
MIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Macey Martin
St. Catherine University
Fy.
Naperville, Ill. | Metea Valley
Macey Martin finished as the tournament runner-up at the Illinois Wesleyan Spring Fling with a two-round score of 143. After carding a 73 in round one, Martin scored a collegiate-low of 70 in round two.