Johnson Named USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Ryan Johnson was named the DI Men’s National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.

Johnson launched a 24.99-meter throw to win the weight throw at the Iowa State Classic on Friday. His mark was a new lifetime best and updated the school record, which he had most recently set at the Hawkeye Invitational on Jan. 9. Three of his four legal throws surpassed the 24-meter barrier. Johnson maintains the national lead in the weight throw.

The Springboro, Ohio, native unleashed the fourth-best collegiate performance of all-time. On the global scale, Johnson moved into the top 10 of individuals all-time on both the US and World lists. He is the No. 9 American and No. 10 weight thrower in the world. Johnson’s throw was the 15th-best mark in US and World history.

Johnson is Iowa’s first field athlete to be recognized by the USTFCCCA as a National Athlete of the Week since Laulauga Tausaga in February of 2019. It is the first time a Hawkeye has earned this specific distinction since Rivaldo Marshall took home the honor in December of 2024.

Johnson and the Hawkeyes head to the Tyson Invitational on Feb. 13-14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Iowa’s distance group will travel to Boston for the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational.