Ottumwa, IA – Freshman Tate Joens (Cedar Rapids, IA/Cedar Rapids Prairie) has been named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Athlete of the Week after a record-breaking performance at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 11 Indoor Championships over the weekend.

Joens made headlines in Storm Lake, IA after setting two school records and capturing an individual Region title to lead the No. 1 nationally ranked Indian Hills Men's Track & Field team to a second-place team finish, the best in program history. Joens took home the men's weight throw title and placed third overall in the men's shot put event.

Joens shattered his own school record in the men's weight throw with the top distance among all NJCAA participants this year on Friday night. The freshman posted a mark of 18.56 meters, more than 1.5 meters better than his previous personal best to earn a spot at the top of the podium. For his effort, Joens became the first weight throw champion in school history.

Joens followed up on Saturday with another record-breaking performance with a distance of 16.62 meters in the shot put to place third overall for the Warriors. Joens' shot put mark was good enough for eighth-best in the nation this year as the freshman became the first individual to earn a podium spot in the event since 2019.

The Warriors have now captured five ICCAC Athlete of the Week honors while Joens becomes the first field athlete in men's track & field history to earn the honor.

Next up for the Warriors is the 2024 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Gainesville, FL March 1-2.

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