LOGAN, Utah – Utah State track and field sophomore Ayodele Ojo, Jr. has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Jan. 18. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
Ojo broke the Utah State and Mountain West records in the men's 60 meters at the Idaho State-hosted Snake River Open last weekend, winning the competition with a time of 6.55. His time ranks tied for third in the nation so far this season, and he ranks seventh in the world and second among all Americans in calendar year 2026. Ojo also topped the prelims with a time of 6.62, which moved him from third to second in Aggie history in the event, before breaking All-American Nic Bowens's 2014 record time of 6.61 in the final.
  
Fans can follow the Utah State track and field programs on X at USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on X at USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics. 
 
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN'S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Mason Falslev (Benson, Utah) helped Utah State to a 1-1 Mountain West record last week with a 71-62 home win against Nevada and an 84-74 loss at Grand Canyon. Against the Wolf Pack, Falslev scored a team-high and season-best 26 points, to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while shooting 9-of-14 from the floor, 2-of-4 from deep and 6-of-6 from 3-point range. Against the Lopes, he recorded his fourth-career double-double and his first of the season as he scored a team-high 25 points, along with a career-high-tying 12 rebounds, to go along with two assists and one block, shooting 8-of-21 from the field, 4-of-9 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. For the week, Falslev averaged 25.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game, while shooting 48.6 percent (17-of-35) from the field, 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from 3-point range, and 91.7 percent (11-of-12) at the free throw line.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – Sophomore guard Elise Livingston (Millville, Utah) led the Aggies in scoring in both games last week during a pair of Mountain West defeats at Fresno State (86-56) and at home versus Boise State (76-60). Against the Bulldogs, Livingston scored 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a 3-of-4 mark from 3-point range, and added one rebound. Against the Broncos, Livingston scored 17 points on 4-of-9 shooting, continuing her hot perimeter shooting with a 3-of-6 performance from behind the arc, and added three rebounds and one assist. Livingston also went 9-of-10 from the free throw line on the week, including a perfect 6-of-6 against BSU.
 
GYMNASTICS – Junior Isabella Vater (Las Vegas, Nevada) helped Utah State start its season with a 3-1 record last week. The Aggies finished second at the Best of Utah Meet with a 195.825 defeating No. 23 BYU (195.725) and No. 23 Southern Utah (195.675) and losing to No. 15 Utah (197.300). USU then posted a 195.700-195.550 home win against Southern Utah. At the Best of Utah Meet, Vater tied her career-high on floor with 9.875 to tie for third. She also scored a career-high 9.750 on bars. In USU's dual meet against SUU, Vater won her first-ever bars title with a career-high 9.850 and scored 9.750 on floor.
 
MEN'S TENNIS – Sophomore Xavier Calvelo (Las Vegas, Nevada) led the Aggies during the team's season-opening weekend with a 2-0 start to singles play as USU defeated Wichita State, 5-2, before falling to Arizona State, 6-1. Against the Shockers, Calvelo delivered the clinching point with a win at No. 2 singles in three sets (6-2, 2-6, 6-4). Calvelo then secured USU's lone point against the Sun Devils, again winning at the second position in straight sets (7-6 (4), 6-1).
 
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD – Junior Shelby Jensen (Saratoga Springs, Utah) won the women's mile competition with a time of 4:49.58 at the Idaho State-hosted Snake River Open last weekend. The outdoor All-American's time, which is converted to 4:44.06 to account for altitude, leads all Mountain West athletes so far this year and ranks 37th in the nation.

2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football
Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football
Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball
Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer
Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic, Volleyball
Nov. 10 – Rine Yonaha, Soccer
Nov. 17 – Garry Clark, Men's Basketball
Nov. 24 – MJ Collins Jr., Men's Basketball
Dec. 1 – Andrea Simovski, Volleyball
Dec. 8 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Dec. 15 – Javin Richards, Track and Field
Dec. 22 – Mason Falslev, Men's Basketball
Jan. 5 – MJ Collins Jr., Men's Basketball
Jan. 12 – MJ Collins Jr., Men's Basketball
Jan. 19 – Ayodele Ojo, Jr., Track and Field

- USU -