BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy claimed three Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Weekly Awards when the League announced honors on Tuesday. Boston University earned two and Bucknell University took home one.
Navy’s Alex Rizzo was named Patriot League Indoor Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after posting a record-breaking IC4A-qualifying time in the mile at the David Valentine Invitational. Boston University’s Daisy Liljegren won the women’s track athlete of the week for the second time this season after posting a League-best time of 15:50.70 in the 5000 meters.
Bucknell junior Abby Kates collected Patriot League Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after posting an ECAC-qualifying jump in the high jump at the Big Apple Invitational. Navy’s Sam Kwatkosky was named men’s field athlete of the week after recording two IC4A-qualfiying throws in the shot put and weight throw.
Navy freshman Jia Anderson was named Patriot League Women’s Rookie of the Week after posting a Patriot League-best time of 8.41 in the 60 meters hurdles. Boston University’s Logan Popelka was named men’s rookie of the week for the third time this season after finishing with a IC4A-qualifying time of 47.31 in the 400 meters, ranking second in the League this season.
Army West Point’s Mitchell Burr, Boston University’s Foster Malleck and Vera Sjöberg, Bucknell’s Karen Hull, Lehigh’s Skyler Mott, and Navy’s Nathan Kent all received honorable mentions for their performances last week.
Patriot League Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Alex Rizzo, Navy, Sr., Distance, Bronxville, N.Y. / Bronxville
*Rizzo finished 39th out of 432 runners in the mile at the David Valentine Invitational with an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:58.75.
*His time is the fastest in the Patriot League this season and broke the Naval Academy’s program record in the event.
Patriot League Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Daisy Liljegren, Boston University, So., Distance, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J. / Northern Highlands Regional
*Liljegren became the first Terrier since 2016 to run a sub-16 5000m with her ECAC-qualifying run of 15:50.70 at the David Valentine Invitational.
*Her time is the fastest in the Patriot League this season and is ranked 27th in NCAA DI.
Patriot League Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Sam Kwatkosky, Navy, Sr., Throws, Ocala, Fla. / Trinity Catholic
*Kwatkosy finished third in the weight throw at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational with a IC4A-qualifying throw of 20.00m.
*This is only the seventh throw of at least 20.00m in Navy history and ranks third in the Patriot League this season.
Patriot League Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Abby Kates, Bucknell, Jr., Jumps, Aston, Pa. / Archmere Academy
*Kates finished first at the Big Apple Invitational in the high jump clearing an ECAC-qualifying height of 1.70m.
*Her jump is tied for second in the League and placed fourth in the Bucknell record book
Patriot League Men’s Rookie of the Week
Logan Popelka, Boston University, Fr., Sprints, Wylie, Tx. / Wylie High School
*Popelka finished 15th at the Don Kirby Invitational in the 400 meters with a IC4A-qualifying time of 47.31.
*His time ranks as the second-best in the Patriot League this season.
Patriot League Women’s Rookie of the Week
Jia Anderson, Navy, Fr., Sprints, Wilmington, Del. / Padua Academy
*Anderson placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with an ECAC-qualifying time of 8.41 seconds the fastest recorded in the Patriot League this season.
*She broke her own school record in the event twice over the weekend in her semifinal and finals races.
Honorable Mentions
Mitchell Burr, Army West Point, Jr., Middle Distance, Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Thousand Oaks
*Burr finished first in the 1000 meters at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational with a League best and IC4A-qualifying time of 2:21.15. His time broke a 37-year-old West Point academy record.
Karen Hull, Bucknell University, Jr., Jumps/Hurdles, Randolph, N.J. / Randolph
*Hull earned first in the 60-meter hurdles at the Big Apple Invitational with an ECAC-qualifying time of 8.78 that ranks fifth in the Patriot League this season.
Foster Malleck, Boston University, Sr., Middle Distance, Kitchener, Ont. / St. Mary’s
*Malleck became the first Terrier this season to run a sub-4 mile with an IC4A-qualifying time of 3:59.18. His time ranks second in the Patriot League this season.
Skyler Mott, Lehigh, So., Jumps, Mill Neck, N.Y. / Friends Academy
*Mott placed first at the Big Apple Invitational in the high jump clearing an IC4A-qualifying height of 2.01m, ranking eighth in the League this season.
Vera Sjöberg, Boston University, Fr., Distance, Stockholm, Sweden / Rudbeck High School
*Sjöberg ran the fourth fastest time in Boston program history with an ECAC-qualifying time of 9:16.56 at the David Valentine Invitational.
Nathan Kent, Navy, Fr., Sprints, Rocklin, Calif. / Rocklin
*Kent took home three top 5 finishes and IC4A-qualifying marks in the 200m, 400m, and 4x400m relay which as a participant of helped Navy clock the second-best time in program history.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
12.6 – Leon Christian, Boston University, So.
1.17 – Jacques Guillaume, Navy, So.
1.24 – Luke Griner, Army, Jr.
1.31 – Aksel Laudon, Boston University, Gr.
2.7 – Luke Griner, Army, Jr.
2.14 – Alex Rizzo, Navy, Sr.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
12.6 – Molly Mangan, Navy, Sr.
1.17 – Emily Boutin, Navy, Jr.
1.24 – Molly Mangan, Navy, Sr.
1.31 – Daisy Liljegren, Boston University, So
2.7 – Molly Mangan, Navy, Sr..
2.14 – Daisy Liljegren, Boston University, So.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
12.6 – Joshua Boamah, Navy, Jr.
1.17 – Mike Mazzocca, Holy Cross, Jr./Jackson Bryant, Navy, Sr.
1.24 – Baynes Autrey, Navy, Sr.
1.31 – Cam Smith, Army West Point, Jr.
2.7 – Joshua Boamah, Navy, Jr.
2.14 – Sam Kwatkosky, Navy, Sr.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
12.6 – Kayley Ragazzini, Army West Point, Jr.
1.17 – Obiamaka Igwenagu, Holy Cross, Sr.
1.24 – Molly Chapman, Navy, Sr.
1.31 – Laura Reigle, Lehigh, Fy.
2.7 – Kayley Ragazzini, Army West Point, Jr.
2.14 – Abby Kates, Bucknell, Jr.
Men’s Rookie of the Week
12.6 – Logan Popelka, Boston University, Fr.
1.18 – Kaden Kluth, American, Fr.
1.24 – Logan Popelka, Boston University, Fr.
1.31 – Michael Onilogbo, Boston University, Fr
2.7 – Logan Popelka, Boston University, Fr.
2.14 – Logan Popelka, Boston University, Fr.
Women’s Rookie of the Week
12.6 – Laura Reigle, Lehigh, Fy.
1.17 – Laura Reigle, Lehigh, Fy.
1.24 – Sophie Compton, Navy, Fr.
1.31 – Vera Sjöberg, Boston University, Fr.
2.7 – Vera Sjöberg, Boston University, Fr.
2.14 – Jia Anderson, Navy, Fr.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.