MT. PLEASANT, Iowa - Less than one week after hitting the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships ‘B' standard in the racewalk event, freshman Aleksander Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., was selected as the Midwest Collegiate Conference Track Athlete of the Week on Monday.

While competing at the McKendree University Last Chance Meet last Saturday, Jakobsen finished the 5,000-meter racewalk in 27:12.03 to provisionally qualify for the national meet later this month.

"Aleksander has been working hard all of outdoor season and it's been quite the accomplishment for him to qualify for nationals in an event that's brand new to him," said AU assistant coach Tyson Graham. "It's great to see all his hard work and dedication pay off."

Jakobsen's time at McKendree was good enough to break his previous school record in the racewalk by nearly a full minute. At the MCC Outdoor Championships, Jakobsen was named All-MCC in the racewalk and he set the indoor school record in the 3,000-meter racewalk this past March as well.

Jakobsen joins senior Franklin Barnes of Chicago, sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., and fellow freshmen Christian Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., and Sarah Wenzel of Clinton, as members of the Saints track and field program who will head to Marion, Ind., for the national meet.