University of Northern Iowa Athletics
King earns UNI Track and Field MVC Honors as Male Field Athlete of the Week
2/15/2022 10:12:00 AM | Track and Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Darius King earns his second Missouri Valley Conference Honors of the season as Male Field Athlete of the Week. King earned this title for his performance at the Iowa State Classic this past weekend.
King took first place at the Iowa State Classic with a toss of 19.67 meters in the shot put, tying his season best mark set at the Husker Invitational February 5th.
King continues his hold on the first place position in the Missouri Valley and 12th in the NCAA. King competed and won against competitors from three Big 12 schools, and one Big 10 school. King also set a season best throw in the weight throw at the Iowa State Classic with a toss of 19.07 meters. King moves to seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference in the weight throw with this toss.
Darius King is a returning three-time NCAA qualifier who competed in the 2020 Olympic Trials. King finished 12th at the Trials with a throw of 19.66 meters. King's personal best throw is 20.14 meters, set at the Gibson Invitational in April of 2021. He holds three MVC shot put Champion titles and a total of 9 MVC honors. King holds the UNI shot put record indoors with a throw of 20.06 meters and holds the record outdoors with a throw of 20.14 meters. King also holds the MVC Championship Indoor meet record in the shot put.
King is the son of Reginald and Beverly King from Moline, Illinois. He is majoring in technology management with a minor in computer science at UNI.
The Panthers return to action on February 18th at the University of Wisconsin for the Badgers St. Valentine's Invitational. This will be UNI track and field's final indoor meet of the 2021-22 season. Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held on February 27th and 28th held in Chicago, Illinois.
OTHER WEEKLY HONORS
Male Track -
Gal Arad, So., Ramat Gan, Israel (Drake)
Gal Arad won the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.23 at the Iowa State Classic on Friday breaking the Israel national indoor 200 meter dash record set in 1998. His 200 meter dash time now leads the MVC and ranks 73rd in the nation.
Honorable Mention: Jack Sumners (UNI), Men's 4x400 Relay (Southern Illinois), Blake Buysse (Loyola), Cale Kilian (Indiana State), Riley Wells (Illinois State)
Female Track -
Madison Meredith, Sr./Gr., Birmingham, Michigan (MSU)
Won the 60-meter dash at the Gorilla Classic, a meet that had entries from over 60 schools. The field for the 60-meter was deep, with over 80 athletes competing. Meredith raced a time of 7.26 to win first place at the classic. The time was a lifetime best for Meredith & Her time of 7.26 also smashes the Missouri State record in the 60-meter dash of 7.39, which she previously set last season. This is a new PR and MSU record puts her at 17th on the NCAA national ranking list. The win on Saturday was Meredith's fifth-straight individual event title this indoor season. She has won every event she has competed in this season, including three 60-meter titles and two 200-meter titles.
Honorable Mention: Kayla Schiera (Southern Illinois), Nicola Jansen (Bradley), Kathleen Sims (Loyola), Jocelyn Quiles (Indiana State), Jaclyn Greci (Illinois State)
Female Field -
Elisia Lancaster, Sr., (Southern Illinois)
Lancaster recorded a new PR in the women's weight throw at the Music City Challenge. Her mark of 22.51m (73' 10.25") is the best in the Valley and currently ranks her 7th in the NCAA. The toss also puts her at 5th all-time in the SIU record books
Honorable Mention: Mari Shavers (UNI), DaeLin Switzer (Missouri State), Jana Rokitta (Loyola), Brittnee James (Indiana State), Kameesha Smith (Illinois State)
Players Mentioned
