4 Hawkeyes Earn B1G Honors

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa sprinters Jordan Gross, Dymonde Nave, Blake Nyenati and Izzy Zahn earned Big Ten Athlete of the Week recognition, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon.

These are the first weekly conference honors of the season for the Hawkeyes.

Gross, a Vandalia, Ohio, native is Iowa’s first Big Ten Men’s Freshman of the Week since thrower Bryce Ruland earned the distinction a season ago. In his collegiate debut at the Jimmy Grant Invite, Gross posted a team-best 6.77 in the prelims of the 60 meters. His time ranks second in the Big Ten. Among freshmen, Gross is ranked 12th nationally. In the 300 meters, Gross finished as the second-fastest collegian in 33.49.

Nave took home the Big Ten Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honor after winning the 60-meter hurdles at the Jimmy Grant Invite in 8.44. She holds the Big Ten’s leading time in the event. Nationally, Nave is 23rd. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native and Indian Hills transfer ran a qualifying time of 7.67 in the 60-meter prelims. Ultimately, Nave placed fourth in the finals in 7.70. She is the first Hawkeye to win the weekly indoor award since Paige Magee in January of 2024.

Nyenati, a junior transfer from North Dakota State, posted the program’s seventh-fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles to earn the Big Ten’s Men’s Track Athlete of the Week award. His prelim time of 7.73 at the Jimmy Grant Invite was a personal record and moved him into Iowa’s record book in his program debut. Nyenati leads the Big Ten and is ranked fifth nationally. Additionally, Nyenati finished as the second-fastest collegian and third overall in the 60 meters, stopping the clock in a lifetime-best 6.78. Teammate Kalen Walker was the last Hawkeye to be named the conference’s track athlete of the week, dating back to February of 2024.

Zahn earned the Big Ten Women’s Freshman of the Week honor after posting a meet record of 38.14 in the 300 meters at the Jimmy Grant Invite. The Coldwater, Ohio, rookie is the league’s top-ranked freshman in the event. To cap the meet, Zahn ran the second leg of Iowa’s 4x400 relay that placed second in 3:46.76. She was the fastest sprinter in her group and clocked a 55.03 split. Zahn is Iowa’s first indoor women’s freshman of the week award recipient since Damaris Mutunga claimed the honor on Feb. 19 last season.

Iowa track and field returns to action on Jan. 10, hosting the Hawkeye Invitational.