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Kuku Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
1/14/2026 1:56:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
The first-year Gopher won the 400m at the Minnesota Open.
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the second time this indoor season the University of Minnesota women's track and field team has earned weekly honors from the Big Ten Conference. Zeal Kuku was tabbed as the Co-Freshman of the week, the conference office announced on Wednesday.
Kuku, a Minnetonka High School graduate, won the 2026 Minnesota Open 400m in a lifetime best of 54.95 on Saturday at the University Fieldhouse. Kuku's 400m time stands as the fastest by a Big Ten freshman this season and places her No. 2 overall among freshman in the NCAA. In her 400m collegiate debut Kuku's time made her the fastest Gopher freshman in the event since 2022 when eight-time Big Ten champion Abigail Schaaffe posted a 54.04.
Kuku's conference honor is the first of her career and is the first Freshman of the Week honor won by a Gopher since Ella Weippert was named the outdoor Freshman of the Week on April 30, 2025. This indoor season the 'U' has claimed two weekly conference honors - with Kuku joining Anthonett Nabwe (Field Athlete of the Week) with one each.
The 'U' will head out to Lincoln, Neb., for the Graduate Classic, the first road meet of 2026, from January 16-17. Minnesota will not return home until January 30, at the Jack Johnson Classic.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
Kuku, a Minnetonka High School graduate, won the 2026 Minnesota Open 400m in a lifetime best of 54.95 on Saturday at the University Fieldhouse. Kuku's 400m time stands as the fastest by a Big Ten freshman this season and places her No. 2 overall among freshman in the NCAA. In her 400m collegiate debut Kuku's time made her the fastest Gopher freshman in the event since 2022 when eight-time Big Ten champion Abigail Schaaffe posted a 54.04.
Kuku's conference honor is the first of her career and is the first Freshman of the Week honor won by a Gopher since Ella Weippert was named the outdoor Freshman of the Week on April 30, 2025. This indoor season the 'U' has claimed two weekly conference honors - with Kuku joining Anthonett Nabwe (Field Athlete of the Week) with one each.
The 'U' will head out to Lincoln, Neb., for the Graduate Classic, the first road meet of 2026, from January 16-17. Minnesota will not return home until January 30, at the Jack Johnson Classic.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
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