University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI track & field sweeps MVC weekly honors
1/14/2026 10:00:00 AM | Track and Field
ST. LOUIS --- Four members of the UNI track and field team have been recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) with weekly honors, as announced by the league office on Wednesday morning.
Parker Kiewiet and Amelia Hill have been named the MVC Track Athletes of the Week after performances at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, while throwers Spencer Kessel and Jorie Hanenburg swept MVC Field Athlete of the Week honors after competing at the Minnesota Open. The selections are the first weekly conference honors in the careers of all four athletes.
Kiewiet captured the men's 400-meter title at the Hawkeye Invitational over the weekend with a winning time of 48.17 seconds, the 33rd fastest time in the 400 meters this season in Division I, as well as the top time in the MVC this year. The Dike, Iowa native, who finished second in the event at last year's MVC Indoor Championships, is UNI's current school record holder in the event from 2023 with a time of 46.13
Kessel took home first-place honors in the men's shot put at the Minnesota Open with a winning toss of 59 feet even (17.98m), the 24th-best mark in Division I this year. The Letts, Iowa native, who finished as the MVC's indoor shot put runner-up in 2025 and currently ranks fourth in the event in the MVC this year, also placed fifth in the men's weight throw in Minneapolis with a throw of 57 feet, seven and a half inches (17.56m).
Hill finished in first-place in the women's mile at the Hawkeye Invitational in 4:55.27, six seconds off her career-best which ranks fourth in team history. The Ankeny, Iowa native currently holds the fastest time in the event in the MVC this season.
Hanenburg took home second-place in the women's shot put at the Minnesota Open, throwing for 47 feet and one-quarter inch, the third-best mark in the MVC this year. The Eldridge, Iowa native previously placed seventh in the event at the 2025 MVC Indoor Championships and ranks in the top-70 in the event in Division I this season.
The Panthers return to action this Friday, Jan. 16 as they compete at Iowa State's Bill Bergan Classic and Kansas State's Thane Baker Invitational.
UNI track and field action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Track and Field), X (@UNITrackFieldXC) and on Instagram (@uni_tf_xc). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
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