Cates Named B1G Freshman Of The Week
February 18, 2026 | Track & Field
SEATTLE – Redshirt freshman Teko Cates was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week today coming off his stellar high jump victory at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational last weekend in New Mexico. Cates, who had not high jumped since his senior high school season in 2024, came out with the best mark by a Husky in a dozen years, and tied for 13th in the NCAA this season.
Cates, a decathlete from Springdale, Washington north of Spokane, and a graduate of Mary Walker High School, came to UW with an impressive 6-11 high jump PR, but he missed all of the 2025 season rehabbing from an injury. He already made a big impression at the UW Invitational by winning the long jump with a mark of 24-5 3/4, and back in December he set a pole vault PR of 15-8 1/4 in Spokane.
Friday in Albuquerque, Cates high jumped for the first time in college, and he cleared three-straight PRs to get the win. He came into the competition at 6-6 and then jumped at every bar, ultimately clearing six heights, including a first PR at 6-11 3/4, then his first seven-foot make at 7-1, and finally he cleared 7-2 1/4 on a third attempt, before bowing out trying 7-3 1/4.
That 7-2 1/4 make tied A.J. Maricich (in 2014) for fourth on the Husky indoor top-10 list. It also ties him for the Big Ten lead this season, and it ranks tied for second among all freshmen nationally.
Cates also ran the 60-meter hurdles on Saturday in a season-best 8.78 seconds. He will be expected to compete in his first heptathlon competition at the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Feb. 26-28 in Indianapolis.
Big Ten Men's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week – Feb. 18
Track: Handal Roban, PSU
Field: Kobe Lawrence, ORE
Freshman: Teko Cates, WASH
Washington's 2026 B1G Weekly Awards
Dec. 17
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: James Rhoads
Jan. 21
Women's co-Track Athlete of the Week: Chloe Foerster
Men's co-Track Athlete of the Week: Tyler Bilyard
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: James Rhoads
Feb. 4
Women's Field Athlete of the Week: Hana Moll
Women's co-Freshman of the Week: Veronica Vacca
Feb. 18
Men's Freshman of the Week: Teko Cates
Cates, a decathlete from Springdale, Washington north of Spokane, and a graduate of Mary Walker High School, came to UW with an impressive 6-11 high jump PR, but he missed all of the 2025 season rehabbing from an injury. He already made a big impression at the UW Invitational by winning the long jump with a mark of 24-5 3/4, and back in December he set a pole vault PR of 15-8 1/4 in Spokane.
Friday in Albuquerque, Cates high jumped for the first time in college, and he cleared three-straight PRs to get the win. He came into the competition at 6-6 and then jumped at every bar, ultimately clearing six heights, including a first PR at 6-11 3/4, then his first seven-foot make at 7-1, and finally he cleared 7-2 1/4 on a third attempt, before bowing out trying 7-3 1/4.
That 7-2 1/4 make tied A.J. Maricich (in 2014) for fourth on the Husky indoor top-10 list. It also ties him for the Big Ten lead this season, and it ranks tied for second among all freshmen nationally.
Cates also ran the 60-meter hurdles on Saturday in a season-best 8.78 seconds. He will be expected to compete in his first heptathlon competition at the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Feb. 26-28 in Indianapolis.
Big Ten Men's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week – Feb. 18
Track: Handal Roban, PSU
Field: Kobe Lawrence, ORE
Freshman: Teko Cates, WASH
Washington's 2026 B1G Weekly Awards
Dec. 17
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: James Rhoads
Jan. 21
Women's co-Track Athlete of the Week: Chloe Foerster
Men's co-Track Athlete of the Week: Tyler Bilyard
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: James Rhoads
Feb. 4
Women's Field Athlete of the Week: Hana Moll
Women's co-Freshman of the Week: Veronica Vacca
Feb. 18
Men's Freshman of the Week: Teko Cates
Players Mentioned
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Mid-Dist
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
PV
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