WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After producing some of the nation's best marks in their events on Saturday, Purdue track & field senior Johnny Vanos and junior Justin Becker have been recognized as the Big Ten Athletes of the Week, the conference announced on Wednesday.
Vanos is named the Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, and Becker is the Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. The pair are bestowed with Big Ten weekly honors for the first time in their careers, and they are the first awards of the season for the Boilermakers.
This week's two accolades, which come after the second meet of the indoor season, match Purdue's total awards earned during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns. Last year's two honors both came during the outdoor season, one male and one female, and the two in 2019-21 came indoors and marked the last time a Boilermaker was recognized indoors before today.
Vanos won the weight throw at the Gene Edmonds Invitational on January 8 with a mark of 20.65 meters, as he continues to rank No. 6 in school history in the event. The throw is the best in the Big Ten and sixth-best in the NCAA this season. While he earned his second weight throw victory in as many meets to open the season, Vanos earned Saturday's victory by nearly 1.20 meters.
Becker registered two of the fastest sprint times in the nation on Saturday at Lambert Fieldhouse. He finished the 200-meter in 22.08, which was No. 6 in the country last week, and his 60 time of 6.88 was No. 7 nationally. Both were the fastest marks among Big Ten runners at a 2022-opening meet.
The Boilermakers are back in action this weekend when they make the short trip to Chicago for the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational on Saturday, January 15, at the Track & Field Center at Gately Park. Field events are set for 12:45-5:30 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CT and running events will be contested from 3:25-6:30 p.m. ET / 2:25-5:30 p.m. CT, with the final schedule to be set prior to the meet.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Vanos is named the Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, and Becker is the Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. The pair are bestowed with Big Ten weekly honors for the first time in their careers, and they are the first awards of the season for the Boilermakers.
This week's two accolades, which come after the second meet of the indoor season, match Purdue's total awards earned during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns. Last year's two honors both came during the outdoor season, one male and one female, and the two in 2019-21 came indoors and marked the last time a Boilermaker was recognized indoors before today.
Vanos won the weight throw at the Gene Edmonds Invitational on January 8 with a mark of 20.65 meters, as he continues to rank No. 6 in school history in the event. The throw is the best in the Big Ten and sixth-best in the NCAA this season. While he earned his second weight throw victory in as many meets to open the season, Vanos earned Saturday's victory by nearly 1.20 meters.
𝔹𝕚𝕘 𝕋𝕖𝕟 𝔽𝕚𝕖𝕝𝕕 𝔸𝕥𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) January 12, 2022
After an impressive weight throw win on Saturday, with the 6th-best throw in the country this season, Johnny Vanos is recognized with his 1st career Big Ten award. Congrat, Johnny! 👏#BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/Q3ITmaifoT
Becker registered two of the fastest sprint times in the nation on Saturday at Lambert Fieldhouse. He finished the 200-meter in 22.08, which was No. 6 in the country last week, and his 60 time of 6.88 was No. 7 nationally. Both were the fastest marks among Big Ten runners at a 2022-opening meet.
𝔹𝕚𝕘 𝕋𝕖𝕟 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝔸𝕥𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) January 12, 2022
With two of the fastest times in the country in the 60 and 200 last week, Justin Becker has earned his 1st career #B1G weekly honor. Congrats, Justin! 👏#BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/xuQmjVowaC
The Boilermakers are back in action this weekend when they make the short trip to Chicago for the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational on Saturday, January 15, at the Track & Field Center at Gately Park. Field events are set for 12:45-5:30 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CT and running events will be contested from 3:25-6:30 p.m. ET / 2:25-5:30 p.m. CT, with the final schedule to be set prior to the meet.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.