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 20-26, 2025. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2024-2025 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

Robert Atwater from Midland University is this week's field athlete-of-the-week.  Atwater, a senior from Detroit, Michigan, won the high jump and was the runner-up in the pole vault and triple jump at the Concordia Classic this weekend. He reached the NAIA A Standard in two events while moving into second on the all-time pole vault list at Midland.

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, hit the 'A' standard and won two events at the Jim Emmerich Invite last weekend in Brookings, S.D. Mauldin finished first in the 800m with a school-record time of 1:50.06, a time that ranks No.1 in the NAIA. The senior followed by anchoring the Defenders winning 4x400 relay with a season-best time of 3:13.85, the No.4 time in the NAIA and second fastest in program history. Mauldin has hit the 'A' standard in four individual events (200, 400, 600, 800) and as part of two relays (4x400, DMR), all of which he is ranked in the top 10 nationally.