CHICAGO, Ill. - The NEC has announced their weekly honors for the final week of the NEC Track & Field regular season. Four Chicago State track & field athletes stood out after their performances at the Windy City Invite. On the men's side,
Faustin Kaseba was named the NEC Rookie of the Week and Prime Performer, and
Nasir Ali was named a Prime Performer.
Lena Cleveland and
Katherine Thornton were named as prime performer on the women's side.
Faustin Kaseba (Atlanta, Georgia) was named this weeks NEC Rookie of the Week and Prime Performer after finishing seventh and running an impressive 8.08 in the 60 meter hurdles on Feburary 7. His 8.08 time currently sits first in the NEC and has the lead ahead of the second fastest time by nearly two tenths of a second. The freshman from Atlanta will take the top time in the event into the NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend.
Nasir Ali (Camden, New Jersey) was named prime performer after setting a personal best in the 400 meters. Ali ran a 49.17 to finish ninth and will carry the third fastest time to the NEC Indoor Championships.
Lena Cleveland (Southfield, Michigan) has been named prime performer after setting a new indoor school record on Saturday after finishing 13th in the triple jump and leaping 11.63m at the Windy City Invite. The sophomore takes the third furthest mark and will be seeded third at the NEC Indoor Championships in the triple jump.
Katherine Thornton (Reno, Nevada) was named prime performer after her 60 meter hurdle performance. She set a personal best in the prelims of the event at Day One of the Windy City Invite. She posted an 8.71 and finished 16th overall. The grad student will be taking the second fastest time in the conference to the NEC Indoor Championships.
The Chicago State men's and women's track & field teams will be competing for a conference championship at the 2026 NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships from February 15-16 at the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Complex in Staten Island, New York. Coverage of the championships can be found at
gocougars.com
