Week 6: GPAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field 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 outdoor track & field athletes-of-the-week for events held April 22-28, 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 Robert Atwater is this week's field athlete-of-the-week. Atwater, a junior from Detroit, Michigan, won the high jump at the Drake Relays on Friday with a height of over 7 feet (2.14m) and then placed fourth on Saturday in the long jump with a distance of over 24 feet (7.41m). Heading into the GPAC meet next weekend, he is currently ranked first in the high jump (2.14m), second in the pole vault (4.60m), first in the long jump (7.59m), and second in the triple jump (14.10m).

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, won a pair of championships at the Drake Relays held last week in Des Moines, Iowa. Mauldin won the Drake Relays title in the 400m on Friday with a personal-best and school record time of 46.49, which is also the best time in the NAIA. On Saturday, Mauldin anchored the Defenders to the 4x400 relay championship with a school record and top time in the NAIA. The Defenders 4x400 relay time ranks 11th all-time in NAIA history.