Three seniors have earned the first Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards after dominant performances in their respective events. Ryan Crouser (Texas, shot put) and Chris Caldwell (Texas Tech, 60-meter hurdles) each won their respective meet  events en route to  being named Co-Male Athletes of the Week, and Kansas’ Daina Levy (weight throw) took home first place while also posting the best throw in the NCAA this season. The win marks Crouser’s fifth-career weekly indoor honor, while Caldwell and Levy are being recognized for the first time. 

BIG 12 TRACK & FIELD MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ryan Crouser, Texas, shot put, Sr., Boring, Ore.
Crouser opened his final season as a Texas Longhorn with a strong showing at the Texas A&M Invitational. He dominated the field in the shot put with a victory at 20.02 meters (65’ 8.25”). He hit that mark on his final throw of the competition, but already held a sizeable lead entering his final throw. He won the competition by nearly two meters. The toss was a meet record and ranks Crouser No. 2 in the NCAA so far this season. The senior from Boring, Oregon is aiming for his second indoor shot put national title and fourth overall NCAA championship in his career.

BIG 12 TRACK & FIELD MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Chris Caldwell, Texas Tech, 60-meter hurdles, Sr., Wilwood, Mo.
Caldwell kicked off the 2016 season by finishing first in both the prelims and the final of the 60-meter hurdles at the Arkansas Invitational this past weekend. He charged down the track in the final to a time of 7.75 seconds, blowing away the next fastest time of 7.92. Caldwell’s time sits atop the Big 12 leaderboard this season, ranks second in the NCAA and eighth in the world. His first-place finish also continued his streak of earning either first or second in every hurdle-final he’s competed in during his indoor Texas Tech career.

BIG 12 TRACK & FIELD FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Daina Levy, Kansas, weight throw, Sr., Ontario, Canada
Levy got her season off to a fast start as the senior posted a personal best and an NCAA-leading mark in the weight throw during the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular. She topped the 20-meter mark on four of her six attempts, but saved her best for last. Already with the event victory in tow, the All-American unleashed a toss of 21.35 meters (70’0”) to put an exclamation point on her first outing of the season. The throw was not only a personal record by nearly three feet, but shattered the meet record and brought her within 16 inches of the three-year-old school record. The mark was the third-farthest ever achieved by a KU female and made Levy the first DI collegian to top 70 feet in the event this season. Levy’s performance also moved her to the No. 1 spot on the latest NCAA rankings.

2016 Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week