University of Northern Iowa Athletics
David Russell named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for track and field
5/28/2026 12:00:00 PM | Track and Field
ST. LOUIS --- UNI redshirt sophomore David Russell was named the 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for track and field on Thursday in conjunction with the release of the league's annual Scholar-Athlete Team selections.
Student-athletes from the conference's 11 institutions were recognized for their performance in the classroom and in competition. To be eligible for this honor, MVC student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher, be at least a sophomore of both academic and athletic standing and either compete in six regular season meets (combined between indoor and outdoor) OR place in the top eight of an individual event or top three in a relay at either the MVC Indoor and/or Outdoor Championships.
Russell, a Chillicothe, Illinois native, was named First Team All-MVC during both the indoor and outdoor competition seasons for his skill as a Panther thrower. He placed second in the shot put and fourth in the weight throw in March at the MVC Indoor Championships in Indianapolis, while also finishing in the top-five in the hammer throw, discus and shot put at the MVC Outdoor Championships earlier this month in Terre Haute, Indiana. An NCAA West Preliminary qualifier in the shot put, Russell was also named the MVC Men's Elite 18 Award winner for both the indoor and outdoor seasons, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing in the conference championship meet.
This year's UNI selections to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team include:
- Carter Accola - Kinesiology & Exercise Science
- Davis Brogan - Construction Management
- Tinashe Chigudu - Communication & Media
- Micaiah Ellis - Construction Management
- Katy Hand - Advertising & Digital Media and Psychology
- Jorie Hanenburg - Physical Education Teaching
- Amelia Hill - Biology: Biomedical
- Ashton Hogrefe - Financial Management
- Emma Joens - Biology: Biomedical
- Mary Kelly - Psychology
- Olivia Kramer - Kinesiology & Exercise Science
- Chase Lauman - Accounting & Finance
- Carson Lienau - History
- Luke Meyers - Exercise Science
- Joey Perry - Kinesiology & Exercise Science
- David Russell * - Kinesiology & Exercise Science
- Sydnee Scott - Marketing Management and Business Administration
- Darci Wiseman - Kinesiology & Exercise Science and Communication
- Derek Woods - Financial Management
- Kaylee Woolery - Interior Design
** MVC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year
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.
