By: Emilie Jenson 

Public Information Coordinator 

Iowa Central Freshman Tina Samson has been named the 2024 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Midwest Region Female Field Athlete of the Year.

Samson, a freshman from Benin City, Nigeria, finished the season in fifth in the women's long jump and sixth in the women's heptathlon at the NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, also earning USTFCCCA All-American status in both events.

Samson was an eight-time ICCAC Athlete of the Week during the 2024 indoor and outdoor seasons. She opened the outdoor season as the women's long jump champion at the Wes Kittley Invitational in Abeline, TX in March, and finished first while earning a nationals bid in the long jump at the Emporia State Relays.

Samson was the heptathlon champion at the USD Earlybird Relays. She qualified for the Drake Relays ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA in the women's heptathlon and was the only NJCAA competitor in the event at Drake, finishing in fifth place. 

Samson also had a stellar indoor season in 2024, finishing as the Region 11 indoor pentathlon champion where she set a facility record in the process. Samson was Region 11 runner-up in the indoor long jump, earning second-team all-region honors and honorable mention all-region in the women's pole vault and triple jump.