The Big Ten Conference announced its championship awards Wednesday with the University of Minnesota represented by Kostas Zaltos as the B1G Men’s Field Athlete of the Championships. Additionally, Zariyah Black and Joe Manser were chosen as the B1G Sportsmanship Award winners for 2025.
Zaltos is the first Gopher to earn the outdoor Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championships since 2009 when Aaron Studt was honored. The Maroon and Gold set three Big Ten Outdoor Championship meet records during the weekend, starting with the men’s hammer throw and Kostas Zaltos. In his final Big Ten Championships Zaltos won his fourth Big Ten gold medal with an effort of 77.67m (254-10). The fourth Big Ten title in the hammer throw makes Zaltos the first man to win the event at the conference meet four times. Zaltos’ meet-record toss of 77.67m (254-10) broke the meet record that was held by his teammate, Angelos Mantzouranis, who finished second overall to claim his second Big Ten medal of his career as just a sophomore.
“I am happy to be here again and compete,” Zaltos said after his victory. “That was my last dance, I was very pumped and excited to be here and perform and set another meet record. Last year Angelos messaged me saying ‘I broke it a little bit just to give you something for next year,’ and I said, ‘just wait, I will break it again,’ and I am happy I did.”
Zariyah Black was given the B1G Sportsmanship Award after finishing 10th in the women’s 100m hurdles in Eugene. The recent UMN graduate clocked a time of 13.66, the second-fastest time of her 2025 outdoor season, and missed a spot in the Big Ten final by just 0.006 seconds. Black also was the lead leg of Minnesota’s 4x100m relay team.
Manser was the men’s recipient of the B1G Sportsmanship Award for 2025. The Edina, Minn., native competed in the men’s 400m prelims where he clocked a 48.56 and finished 22nd overall.
Up Next
Minnesota next competes at the 2025 NCAA West Regional from May 28-31 in Bryan-College Station, Texas, at Texas A&M. The meet will be contested at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports
