Kaji Named B1G Specialist of the Week

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior Clair Kaji has been named the Big Ten Specialist of the Week, it was announced Monday by the league office. The honor is Kaji’s third of the season.

Kaji is the eighth Hawkeye to earn Big Ten weekly honors this season, which is the most for the program in a single season in school history. Kaji and freshman Adeline Kenlin have each been honored three times each, while junior Lauren Guerin has earned two distinctions.

Kaji, a native of Vancouver, Canada, earned her latest accolade after winning floor in Iowa’s 196.450-196.225 victory over No. 19 Illinois on March 6 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. She tied a career high, posting a 9.925 score.

Kaji also finished as the runner-up on beam with a 9.900 and was fifth on bars (9.800) as Iowa improved to 9-1 overall this season.

The Hawkeyes are currently ranked 19th in the Road to Nationals rankings. The team is fifth nationally – first in the Big Ten — on floor, 19th on vault, 21st on beam, and 23 on bars. Kaji is tied for 20th individually on floor.

Iowa closes out the regular season Sunday, traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a 4 p.m. (CT) matchup against the Cornhuskers.