Youngstown State's Grambling, Neu, Milwaukee's Johnson, Anderson Garner #HLTF Weekly Honors

INDIANAPOLIS –Milwaukee junior Marquis Johnson (Lac du Flambeau, Wis.) and Youngstown State junior Nina Grambling (Canton, Ohio) have been named Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Runners of the Week while Youngstown State junior Conner Neu (Brook Park, Ohio) and Milwaukee freshman Rylee Anderson (Seneca, Ill.) have been named Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Athletes of the Week for the period of Feb. 10-16.

Johnson secured his third runner of the week honor this season after shattering two school records at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. His 400-meter dash time of 47.37 seconds topped a field of 65 runners. Not only does the time rank as a school record and the fastest in the league this season, it also ranks 52nd in the nation. Johnson was also a part of the school record breaking 4x400 meter relay team. Their time of 3:13.53 is nearly eight seconds faster than the second best time in the League this season. Johnson also posted a 200-meter dash time of 21.95 seconds and a 60-meter dash time of 7.20 seconds.

Grambling also won her third runner of the week award this season after a strong showing at the SPIRE Division I Invitational. She placed fourth in the 60-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 7.55 seconds. She also placed seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.65 seconds.  

Neu took home athlete of the week honors by virtue of his impressive showing at the SPIRE Division I Invitational. His school record breaking weight throw of 20.84 meters best the field of 29 competitors by .75 meters. To date, Neu is the only person in the league to register a mark of over 20.00 meters.

Anderson posted a personal-best in the high jump to tie for the top height at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. Her jump of 1.65 meters ranks second best in the league this season and is tied for eighth best in school history.

Milwaukee and Youngstown State return to action on February 20 at the Panther Tune-Up and the Akron Zips Invitational, respectively.

Other Top Athletes of the Week:
Colin Cashner, Detroit (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) – Registered a personal-best in the weight throw at the Grand Valley State Big Meet with a mark of 18.88 meters.
Aaron Dillon, Milwaukee (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis.) – Posted a season-best leap of 14.71 meters at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. The mark is tops in the league this season. 
Matthew Jordan, Oakland (Fr., Woodhaven, Mich.) – Set a triple jump school record with a 13.38 meter jump to finish second at the Grand Valley State Big Meet.
Matt Kubik, UIC (Sr., Carol Stream, Ill.) – At the Chicagoland Championships, placed fourth in the pole vault clearing 4.45 meters.
Jacob Smutz, Valparaiso (Jr., West Lafayette, Ind.) – At the Fred Wilt Invitational, placed fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 18.66 meters.
Ariel Gibbs, UIC (So., Pembroke Township, Ill.) – Placed third in the long jump at the Chicagoland Championships with a jump of 5.47 meters.
Hayley MacDonald, Oakland (Jr., Zeeland, Mich.) – Set a personal-best in the long jump with a mark of 5.17 meters to place second at the Grand Valley State Big Meet.
Jazmin Taylor, Valparaiso (Sr., Rock Island, Ill.) – Registered her sixth high jump title in eight meets at the Fred Wilt Invitational with a jump of 1.64 meters.

Other Top Runners of the Week:
Adam Bruno, Valparaiso (So., Bloomington, Ill.) – Placed fifth in the one-mile with a time of 4:22.91 at the Fred Wilt Invitational.
Aaron Davis, Oakland (So., Detroit, Mich.) – Davis won his fourth consecutive 200-meter dash with a time of 21.82 seconds at the Grand Valley State Big Meet.
Austin McLean, Youngstown State (Jr., West Jefferson, Ohio) – Broke his own school record in the 3,000 meter run at the SPIRE Division I Invitational with a time of 8:10.45. 
Gunnar Sterne, UIC (Sr., West Chicago, Ill.) – Placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.98 at the Chicagoland Championships. Was also a part of the first-place DMR team.
Liz Bloy, Valparaiso (So., Freedom, Wis.) – Placed seventh and tenth in the one-mile (5:10.60) and the 3,000-meter run (10.20.79), respectively, at the Fred Wilt Invitational.
Louisa Coppola, Detroit (Sr., Warren, Mich.) – Earned her fourth indoor victory of the season in season debut of the 1,000 meter run. Her time of 2:57.62 toppled the field of six runners.
Tess Ehrhardt, UIC (Sr., Geneva, Ill.) – Crossed the finish line in 10:02.38 in the 3,000 meter run at the Chicagoland Championships, good for second-place.
Candice Mack, Oakland (Jr., Rochester, Mich.) – Set a 200-meter dash school record with a time of 25.25 seconds to finish third at the Grand Valley State Big Meet.
Anuli Okonkwo, Milwaukee (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) – Posted personal-bests in the in the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash with times of 24.93 and 56.59 seconds, respectively. Also posted a 60-meter dash time of 8.06 seconds.

Indoor Athletes of the Week:
Dec. 2: Arnaldo Morales (Youngstown State); Jaynee Corbett (Youngstown State)
Jan. 6: Jordan Banks (UIC); Ashley Bayles (Detroit)
Jan. 13:Nicholas Girodat (Oakland); Jazmin Taylor (Valparaiso)
Jan. 20:Gino Vitella (Oakland); Sarah Peters (Valparaiso)
Jan. 27:Trevor James (Milwaukee); Alisha Harper (Milwaukee)
Feb. 3: Justin Zosso (Valparaiso); Aisha Potts-Tyre (Detroit)
Feb. 10: Conner Neu (Youngstown State); Rylee Anderson (Milwaukee)

Indoor Runners of the Week:
Dec. 2: Bryce Stroede (Oakland); Nina Grambling (Youngstown State)
Jan. 6: Ryan Leahy (Detroit); Kacia Grant (Wright State)
Jan. 13:  Marquis Johnson (Milwaukee); Leah Holmes (Milwaukee)
Jan. 20:  Marquis Johnson (Milwaukee); Shannon Marchant (Detroit)
Jan. 27: Reed Schmidt (Milwaukee); Nina Grambling (Youngstown State)
Feb. 3: Ben Kendell (Detroit); Leah Holmes (Milwaukee)
Feb. 10: Marquis Johnson (Milwaukee); Nina Grambling (Youngstown State)