ST. LOUIS – Indiana State sophomore sprinter Casey Hood Jr. and senior pole vaulter Will Staggs combined to sweep the MVC Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors Tuesday afternoon following strong performances at the Crimson Tide Invitational.
 
Hood Jr. was named the MVC Men's Track Athlete of the Week, while Staggs was named the MVC Men's Field Athlete of the Week. Both Sycamore standouts own the top marks in the MVC in their events.
 
Hood Jr. ran a wind-legal 100m time of 10.26 (w: +1.2) to place second in a stacked Crimson Tide Invitational field featuring multiple All-Americans. He also ran the anchor leg of the Sycamores' 4x100m relay which placed second overall and first among NCAA schools with a time of 40.25. Hood's 100m time was his second-fastest this season and marked the second straight week with a sub-10.30 time in the event, while the Trees' 4x100m time was the second-fastest this season for Indiana State.
 
Hood Jr. ranks first in the MVC, fourth in the Great Lakes Region, 21st in NCAA East Qualifying and 33rd nationally in the 100m. Additionally, he also owns the top time in the conference in the 200m (20.96w), which ranks eighth in the Great Lakes Region and 62nd in NCAA East Qualifying. Indiana State's 4x100m relay team sits first in the MVC, sixth in the Great Lakes Region and 33rd in NCAA East Qualifying (excluding B/C teams).
 
Staggs cleared a season-best 5.45m (17-10.5) to place first in the pole vault at the Crimson Tide Invitational, defeating four top-40 NCAA East Qualifying athletes in the process. Staggs cleared marks of 5.15m (16-10.75), 5.25m (17-2.75) 5.35m (17-6.5) and 5.45m (17-10.5) at the meet, and was the only athlete in the field to clear 5.35m or 5.45m. It was Staggs' 13th time clearing a mark of 5.40m (17-8.5) or better in his career, 12 of which have come since the start of the 2024 indoor season (2025 outdoor – once; 2025 indoor – three times; 2024 outdoor – three times; 2024 indoor – five times; 2023 indoor – once).
 
Staggs pole vault mark ranks first in the MVC and Great Lakes Region, fourth in NCAA East Qualifying and 10th nationally. He is the only athlete in the conference to clear 5.45m (17-10.5) or better during an outdoor season in the last 15 years.
 
The weekly honor is the fifth of Hood Jr.'s career, having been named MVC Men's Track Athlete of the Week four times during the 2025 indoor season. Staggs' weekly honor is the 10th of his career, having previously earned the honor eight times during indoor track and field seasons and once during outdoor track and field seasons.
 
Indiana State returns to action Thursday through Saturday, playing host to the Gibson Invitational at the Gibson Track and Field Complex.
 
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