Leavenworth, Kan.—The KCAC and the University of Saint Mary is thrilled to announce that Austin Howell has earned the KCAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honor, the conference office announced Tuesday. Student-athletes are selected for their performances from Jan. 5-11 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by Athletic Solutions.

The junior from Lansing, Kansas has gotten off to a hot start to this 2026 T&F season, showcasing an extremely strong weekend at the Friends U. First Chance Qualifier. Howell recorded a final time of 4:26.86 in the 1-mile, ranking #2 in all of KCAC and 17^th nationally. His efforts in the 600-meter further bolstered his efforts with a final time of 1:25.43, placing himself #5 in the KCAC.

Howell and his fellow USM teammates will have a quick turnaround and are back in action this Saturday, January 17^th at the Coach Richard Alsup Open hosted by the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. To view all previous KCAC men's track & field POTW honorees, you can stay up to date at KCAC Sports.
 
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Based in Kansas City, Kansas, Athletic Solutions is a national leader in NIL fan engagement and e-commerce technology, collaborating with colleges and universities to bring NIL Locker Rooms to life. Their platform simplifies NIL opportunities, providing student-athletes with the tools and exposure needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of college athletics.