BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for golf and outdoor track & field on Tuesday. Student-athletes from Concordia, Gustavus, Macalester, Saint Benedict, and St. Olaf 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 outdoor 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.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week
Jimmy Abdo
Gustavus Adolphus College
Fy.
Edina, Minn.
Jimmy Abdo led the Gusties to victory at the annual Bobby Krig Invite on 4/18-19. Abdo claimed medalist honors with a three-round score of 215 (72-70-73). After 22 pars and seven birdies through the first two rounds of play, Abdo carded eleven pars in the final 18 holes to finish first among the 90 competitors in the field.
MIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Catherine Jance
College of Saint Benedict
Jr.
Hopkins, Minn.
Catherine Jance took home her second consecutive medalist honor on 4/19 with an individual victory at the Rumble at the Ridge. Jance fired a career-best-tying 73 (+1) on the Oneka Ridge Golf Course, securing the top spot and helping lead the Bennies to a second consecutive team runner-up finish. She is the second CSB golfer in program history to record back-to-back tournament wins, joining Kathryn Hauff, who achieved the feat in the fall of 2010.
MIAC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Ignatius Fitzgerald
St. Olaf College
Jr.
Missoula, Mont. | Hellgate
Ignatius Fitzgerald finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:11.52) at the Phil Esten Challenge on 4/17. The junior's time is the fastest in the MIAC this season by more than 11 seconds and ranks 21st in NCAA Division III.
MIAC Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Cooper Folkestad
Concordia College
Sr.
Wadena, Minn. | Wadena-Deer Park
Cooper Folkestad broke the program record in the shot put with a Division III-leading throw of 18.36 meters (60' 3") at the Saint John's Easter Invitational on 4/17. Folkestad became the first Cobber in program history to surpass 60 feet in the event, surpassing the previous program mark set by three-time NCAA champion Aaron Banks by more than a foot. Folkestad also placed second in the discus at the SJU meet with a mark of 48.34 meters (158' 7") and was fourth in the hammer throw at 49/76 meters (163' 3").
MIAC Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Ariella Rogahn-Press
Macalester College
Fy.
Albuquerque, N.M. | Bosque School
Ariella Rogahn-Press broke two program records at the Georgia Tech Invitational on 4/19 in Atlanta. Her time of 54.30 in the 400 meters ranks second in NCAA Division III this year and 23rd all-time in Division III history. She also posted a time of 24.55 in the 200 meters, which is 23rd in Division III this spring. Both times topped the program records of 55.53 and 24.93, previously held by Hannah Sonsalla.
MIAC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Justus Floren
College of Saint Benedict
Sr.
Sauk Rapids, Minn. | Sauk Rapids-Rice
Justus Floren recorded a career-best score of 4,429 in the heptathlon competition at Saint Benedict's Easter Invitational on 4/17. It represents the third-highest heptathlon score in program history and currently ranks 20th in NCAA Division III this season. Floren finished among the top three in every event, which included wins in the javelin throw (36.57m, 120' 0") and shot put (11.00m, 36' 1.25").