Freshman pole vaulter Kyle Kruthoff was named this week's NJCAA track and field athlete of the week, the national governing body announced Wednesday afternoon.

Kruthoff, an Erie native, won last week's Jim Green Invite at Illinois College with a height of 16 feet. It improved his NJCAA indoor and outdoor qualifying effort by eight and a half inches.

Kruthoff, who is a fire science major, and the Chaps are competing Friday at North Central College's Pat Heenan Invite. The meet begins at 3:30 p.m.

Also, the Chaps are ranked 23rd in the country in this week's U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association top 25 for NJCAA Division I programs. They are ranked seventh in the Midwest Region.