After a stellar weekend, Chicago’s athletes raked in the accolades.
Five Maroons from two sports were honored as UAA Athletes of the Week, the league announced Wednesday. Women’s tennis’s first-year sensation Vindya Dayananda joined women’s track fourth-year Jessica Winter and third-years Jackie Kroop, Nellie Movtchan, and Alexandra Robertson as honorees.
Dayananda earned the recognition for her performance last weekend against 22nd-ranked Luther and 29th-ranked Albion. Displaying poise that belied her inexperience, she defended her eleventh-regional ranking with a pair of victories at first singles. Dayananda also teamed up with third-year Ade Omodele-Lucien to go unbeaten at first doubles. The victories helped the Maroons to win both matches and built early hopes of making the NCAA tournament.
Winter, Kroop, Movtchan, and Robertson were recognized for their performance in the distance medley relay at last weekend’s Chicagoland championships. The quartet met the NCAA’s provisional qualifying time in the event with their time of 12:05.42, the fastest time in the league this season.
For Dyananda, Kroop, Movtchan, and Robertson, it is their first time being honored by the UAA. Winter was selected for the fourteenth time in her career, the fourth time this season, and the fifth time in her career for indoor track.