ST. LOUIS – Indiana State track and field student-athletes Jason Dworak and Will Staggs swept the MVC Men's Track and Field weekly awards following strong showings at the Billy Hayes Invitational.
 
Dworak was named the MVC Men's Track Athlete of the Week, while Staggs was tabbed the MVC Men's Field Athlete of the Week, as announced Wednesday by the conference office.
 
Dworak recorded the best performance of his collegiate career at the Billy Hayes Invitational, moving all the way up to second in program history in the 1500m. His time of 3:43.69 was the fastest by a Sycamore in the event since 2017 and made him just the fourth athlete in program history to run a 1500m time under 3:45. Included in Dworak's career-best performance were two 400m splits faster than 60 seconds, while his opening 300m split came in at 43.65.
 
Dworak's best performances of his career have come at the right time for Indiana State, as his three fastest 1500m times have come in the Sycamores' last three meets. Entering championship week, he sits fourth in the MVC and 19th in the Great Lakes region in the 1500m.
 
Staggs broke his own pole vault record for the third time this season on his way to a first-place finish at the Billy Hayes Invitational. Competing in a field with three All-Americans from the 2023 outdoor season, Staggs cleared marks of 5.15m (16-10.75) and 5.30m (17-04.50) before clearing the record-setting mark of 5.50m (18-00.50) on his third attempt at the height. His only height missed was at a mark of 5.63m (18-05.50), which would have put him in strong position to qualify for the US Olympic Trials.
 
Staggs' mark was the first time an MVC pole vaulter cleared a mark of 5.50m or better since 2007. He tops the conference in the event while also ranking second in the Great Lakes region, seventh in NCAA East Region qualifying and 12th in Division I in the event. In addition, he is also in contention to qualify for the 2024 US Olympic Trials, with his mark ranking 30th in the US.
 
Dworak's weekly honor is the first of his career and the second by a Sycamore distance runner this season, after Logan Pietrzak previously earned the honors in March. Staggs' weekly honor is his first this outdoor season and seventh of his career, having earned the honor five times during the 2023-24 indoor season and once during the 2022-23 indoor season. Indiana State has picked up nine MVC Athlete of the Week honors this outdoor season after earning 10 weekly honors from the conference during indoor season.
 
Indiana State sets its sights on the 2024 MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which the Sycamores host Friday through Sunday at the Gibson Track and Field Complex.
 
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