Conor Kolka, Jeremy Watson named NCAC Athletes of the Week in Men’s Outdoor Track and Field

| NCAC Players of the Week – April 2 |

SPRINGFIELD — Wittenberg junior Conor Kolka (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) and sophomore Jeremy Watson (Sugar Grove, Ohio/Berne Union) were each named North Coast Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week in men's outdoor track and field for the week of March 25-31.

Kolka was named the NCAC Men's Mid/Distance Athlete of the Week, and Watson was named the Field Athlete of the Week.

This marks the second NCAC Athlete of the Week honor for Kolka and the sixth of his career. He earned the honor twice as a freshman and three times as a sophomore.

The latest recognition comes after Kolka placed 11th of 141 runners in the 10,000 meters at the WashU Distance Carnival on Thursday in a school-record time of 29:42.25, which ranks seventh nationally. He broke his own school record of 30:07.18, which he set last season.

Kolka also holds the school records in the indoor 3,000 meters (8:19.88) and 5,000 meters (14:43.49). 

The 2023 NCAC champion in the outdoor 5,000 and 2024 NCAC champion in the indoor 3,000, Kolka is a six-time All-NCAC honoree.

This marks the second career NCAC Athlete of the Week accolade for Watson, who earned the honor earlier this year during the indoor season.

The latest recognition comes after he won the pole vault at the Cedarville Yellow Jacket Open on Saturday with a school-record mark of 4.68 meters, which ranks 17th nationally. The prior school record was 4.57 meters set by Ken Kroviak in 1971.

Watson also holds the school record in the indoor pole vault with a mark of 4.60 meters, which he achieved this season to break the prior record of 4.31 meters. He also earned All-NCAC recognition in the event at the 2024 NCAC Indoor Championships.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday at the Marv Frye Invitational at Ohio Wesleyan.