Week 6: Men's Outdoor Track & Field Honors
(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and Hauff Mid-America Sports are proud to announce the following men’s outdoor track & field athletes-of-the-week for events held April 24-30, 2023. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2022-2023 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program.
Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes-of-the-Week
Field Events – Dylan Kucera, Midland University
Dylan Kucera from Midland University is this week's field athlete-of-the-week. Kucera, a senior from Fremont, Nebraska, had a strong showing at the Drake Relays over the weekend. Competing in the elite college division of both events, he placed third in the shot put with a throw of 18.60m and was fifth in the hammer throw with a toss of 63.49m. He ranks first in the NAIA in the shot put and is third nationally in the hammer throw this year.
Track Events – Payton Mauldin, Dordt University
Payton Mauldin of Dordt University is this week's track athlete-of-the-week. Mauldin, a junior, from George, Iowa, competed in four events at two different meets. He began the week by winning the 400m with an NAIA 'A' standard time of 48.0, second best in the GPAC and No. 15 in the NAIA at the USD meet. Mauldin next competed in the open 800m at the Drake Relays where he finished second overall with both a school-record and NAIA 'A' standard time of 1:49.07. Mauldin has the top time in the NAIA. He then anchored the Defenders Sprint Medley to a school record time and third place finish out of 18 teams. Mauldin's week concluded as he anchored the 4x400 relay that placed fourth in the Drake Relays final and has the third best time in the NAIA.