Wheeling, W. Va. - Throughout the 2026 Outdoor Track & Field season, Felix Manyani has been leading the way in the Men's Javelin throw. On Monday, he was honored for his hard work when the Mountain East Conference (MEC) released their weekly Player of the Week honors, presented by The Healthplan. The sophomore was named the conference's Co-Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Week, splitting the honor with Davis & Elkins's Jordan Thomas.
The sophomore got the second day of action started when he lined up on the runway for the Men's Javelin throw. He would get the day started with a bang, hitting a distance of 58.25 meters right off the bat. It was the start of a big showing for the sophomore, who would get through the first three throws with his 58 meter mark still standing as his best and he moved on to the finals. There, he would hit distances of 53.08 meters and 52.88 meters on his final two throws, but hit first would stand as his best of the day. He would finish second in the field, sitting 6.15 meters behind Point Park's Jakob Blatnik for the event lead. It was the second time this season that Manyani has finished over the 55 meter mark, as he continues to build off what has been a successful season.
It was the third straight tournament that Manyani has finished top two in, and the first time he would take second this season. He entered the week as one of 11 athletes across the MEC to hit an NCAA Provisional mark in his respective event and now sits second in the conference in the event. He set his PR back in the season-opening meet, when he hit 58.71 meters at the Marty Pushkin Invitational and was just 1.46 meters off that mark this past week. After competing in both the long jump and the 60-meter dash last season, Manyani has turned his full focus to the javelin during the 2026 season and is looking to get on the podium in the event come the end of the month.
With Manyani winning the Athlete of the Week honor, the Wheeling Athletic Department has now had 45 student-athletes earn Conference Player of the Week honors. He is the first Player of the Week honoree for the Outdoor Track & Field season, and the first Men's Track & Field athlete to win Player of the Week honors since Alexander Rodriguez earned honors back on December 8th during indoor season. Manyani is the second Cardinal student-athlete to be honored this week, joining Wheeling Baseball player Luke Meyer.
The Wheeling University Outdoor Track & Field team returns to action on Friday, April 17th, when they compete on day one of the Otterbein Twilight.
