ST. LOUIS – Indiana State athletes accounted for both of the MVC Field Athlete of the Week honors, with Jake Ottersbach and Olivia Marshall recognized by the league office Wednesday for their strong performances during the Sycamores' split-squad weekend.
 
Ottersbach was tabbed the MVC Men's Field Athlete of the Week after a career-best performance in the heptathlon, while Marshall nabbed MVC Women's Field Athlete of the Week accolades after career-best marks in both throws events.
 
Ottersbach recorded the best heptathlon performance of his career at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational, placing second in the field with 5,217 points. Ottersbach tallied personal-best marks in four of the seven events over the course of the weekend, those being the 60m hurdles (8.26), 1000m (2:52.77), shot put (11.59m/38-0.25) and pole vault (4.20m/13-9.25). In addition, he also added season-best marks in the long jump (6.84m/22-5.25) and high jump (1.91m/6-3.25). Ottersbach's performance moved him to second in program history in the heptathlon and was the best by a Sycamore in the event since 2014. He ranks second in the MVC, fifth in the Great Lakes Region and 49th nationally in the event. Ottersbach also ranks in the top 10 in the MVC in the 60m hurdles (10th) and owns top-15 MVC marks in the long jump (13th) and high jump (15th), all of which were recorded over the past weekend.
 
Marshall recorded career-best marks in both throws events at the Rose-Hulman Classic, with the sophomore also earning a first-place finish in the shot put Saturday. Marshall opened her day with a career-best mark of 14.72m (48-3.5) to take top spot in the event and followed up with her best-ever weight throw mark of 18.37m (60-3.25) to place second, as Indiana State claimed the top four spots in both throws events. Marshall owns top-three MVC marks in both events with Saturday's performance, ranking second in the shot put and third in the weight throw. In addition, she ranks in the top 20 in the Great Lakes Region in both events (13th in the shot put, 17th in the weight throw) while also ranking 95th nationally in the shot put.
 
The weekly honors are the first for both Ottersbach and Marshall in their respective careers. Indiana State has earned seven MVC Athlete of the Week accolades during the 2025-26 indoor season, with multiple MVC weekly winners on three separate occasions (Dec. 17, Jan. 21, Feb. 4).
 
Indiana State returns to action Friday and Saturday for the Fairgrounds Invitational, which will take place at the Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis.
 
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