SXU Track and Field Athletes Awarded Accolades
Two Saint Xavier University (SXU) men's athletes were recently awarded impressive accolades from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). Senior Ayobami Arokoyo was named the CCAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week, and senior Lendale Franklin earned CCAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week.
For Arokoyo, it's the sixth time he has earned this distinction during his collegiate career at SXU. He posted the third-best throw in the NAIA this season at 54.23m during the St. Louis University Billikin Invitational and captured first place for the 13th time in his career. He credits his success over the last four years with SXU to the constant guidance he receives from coach Anthony Kowalczyk.
"It always puts a smile on my face when I see [the accolade]. This is the sixth time I have received it, and every single time, it's a blessing to me. Developing as a thrower took a lot of hard work and dedication. I had to be very patient with the progress. At first, it was going slowly, but after being consistent with the practice and workouts, I started to see myself break out and hit marks that I hadn't seen myself reaching anytime soon," Arokoyo said.
As for Franklin, it's the second time he has achieved CCAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week and the fourth time overall being recognized, as he claimed the honor of CCAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week twice. By setting new goals for himself each year and helping the program grow over his four years at SXU, he takes pride in his accomplishments and the team's growth.
"It feels great to start the outdoor season strong. Over the past four years, I've grown a lot as an athlete and person. One of the biggest things for us as a program has been the competitive aspect and the process of building something stronger. When I first got here, we didn't have much, but we've worked hard to elevate the program. Now, we have better equipment, more resources, and a stronger foundation, all thanks to our coaches," Franklin said.
As both talented athletes are soaking up the last of their final track and field season and undergraduate careers, they are reflecting upon the athletic and academic experiences they have had at SXU.
Franklin, who is majoring in sociology with a minor in psychology, didn't have a straightforward path to college due to the pandemic. Still, he is forever grateful that the coaches at SXU reached out to him and offered this experience. Without scholarships from SXU, college would have never been an option. Aside from cross country and track and field, he played upright in SXU's orchestra and occasionally attends chess club meetings. He will become the first in his family to graduate college in May.
"I originally didn't sign with SXU because of the pandemic, and I ended up sitting out for an entire year. That was tough, and it took a mental toll on me not being able to compete. No one in my family has ever completed college, and coming from a single-parent household, my mom couldn't afford for me to attend without my track and field scholarship. Without the scholarship, college wouldn't have even been an option for me. That's why I'm so thankful to my coaches—not just for allowing me to continue chasing my dream, but for allowing me to become the first person in my family to earn a bachelor's degree," Franklin said.
Arokoyo had his eyes on SXU since he was a sophomore in high school and hasn't looked back since. As a communication major, he plans to break into medical device sales after graduating and hopes to continue throwing with the goal of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"Saint Xavier University was a school I had been hearing about since I was a sophomore in high school. Initially, I was considering it just for academics. However, when I started playing sports and was offered a scholarship my senior year, it became more than an option. As a two-sport athlete, Saint Xavier recognized my dedication and passion for both sports, which led to me earning scholarships for each. After that, choosing Saint Xavier became an easy decision," Arokoyo said.