Week 5: GPAC Men's Indoor T&F Athletes of the Week

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and Hauff Mid-America Sports are proud to announce the following men's indoor track & field athletes-of-the-week for events held January 29-February 4, 2024. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2023-2024 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program. 

Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Athletes-of-the-Week

Field Events – Robert Atwater, Midland University
Midland University's Zach Zohner is this week's field athlete-of-the-week. Atwater, a junior from Detroit, Michigan, had a busy and successful day at the DWU Alumni Meet. He won the long jump and was runner-up in the high jump and pole vault. This season, the multi-event athlete has reached the NAIA A standard in the high jump (ranked #3) and long jump (ranked #9), the NAIA B standard in the pole vault (ranked #9), and has the top point total in the nation in the heptathlon (5117pts).

Track Events – Payton Mauldin, Dordt University

Dordt University's Payton Mauldin is this week's track athlete-of-the-week. Mauldin, a senior, from George, Iowa, once again hit three qualifying marks at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite held last weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska. Competing against NCAA Division I athletes, Mauldin hit the 'A' standard in the 400m with a school-record time of 46.99, breaking the record set in 2012. He finished second overall, behind a Baylor (Texas) runner, and has the No.1 time in the NAIA. The next day, Mauldin hit the 'A' standard again in the 800m and still has the No.1 time in the NAIA in the event. Mauldin concluded the weekend with a 46.1 split as he anchored the Defenders 4x400 relay that hit the 'A' standard for the fourth time this season. Mauldin is ranked No.1 in the NAIA in the 400, 600m, 800m and 4x800 relay; second in the 4x400 and 11th in the 200m.