Freshman pole vaulter Olivia Kalata is this week's NJCAA Female Track and Field Athlete of the Week, the national organization announced for the week of Feb. 17-23.
 
The LaGrange native and Lyons Township graduate cleared a national qualifying height of 10 feet, 8¼ inches at last Friday's F. Lee Slick Invitational, held at North Central College. The mark was 12¼ inches better than her previous season best and ranks fifth in the nation.
 
Kalata is a biology major and is on scholarship through the College's STEM Student Success Scholarship.
 
The NJCAA indoor championship is March 6-7 in Lynchburg, Va.
 
NOTE: The Chaps are ranked 25^th in this week's USTFCAA top 25 poll for the week of Feb. 26. They are 11^th in this week's USTFCCA Midwest Regional poll. The men are 23^rd in the country and seventh in the Midwest.