Army West Point Athletics
Cheney and Tillman Earn Patriot League Weekly Honors
April 07, 2026 | Women's Track and Field
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point's Mikayla Cheney and Simone Tillman earned weekly Patriot League honors after a strong weekend at the Florida relays, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Cheney was named Track Athlete of the Week, while Tillman was named Rookie of the Week.
A junior from New Castle, Colo., Cheney had a dominant showing in the 1,500m race, setting a new program record with a time of 4:13.81 to finish sixth in a loaded field. Cheney also set a personal best – and the third-best time in program history – in the 800m with a time of 2:06.63.
"Mikayla Cheney has been competing at the top of the Patriot League since she arrived to West Point nearly three years ago, and while that has been rewarding for her, she has designs on competing at the top of the NCAA," said Director of Track and Field Mike Smith. "Her performance this week brought her closer to that goal. She finished last year with a personal best of 4:16.14 in the 1500, and in only her second competition of this outdoor season has dropped that personal best to 4:13.81. Mikayla always rises to the level of the competition; a skill that will eventually earn her a place among the best in the NCAA. She is on top of her game right now and there is plenty of racing left on the calendar."
Tillman also had a very strong weekend for Army. Part of the 4x400m relay team, Tillman helped set the program and service academy record in the event with a time of 3:40.42. The time is best in the Patriot League this season. The freshman from Hood River, Ore., also set a personal-best in the 400m at 54.75, a time that is second in the Patriot League this year and fourth all-time at Army. Her final event of the weekend was the 4x100m relay, where Army posted a 46.37, which is third in the conference and fifth all-time at Army.
"Simone came to us as an unknown. She had experimented with multiple events in high school and we weren't really sure where she would fit in on the track or in the field. As we moved through the fall and into the winter, she emerged as a very capable sprinter," said Smith. "She is now the one of the top sprinters in the Patriot League and continues to improve. She is already a member of two school record and service academy record relay teams. Her performance this weekend, while not unexpected now ranks fifth on the all-time 400m list at Army. She is doing great things early in the season and has a very bright future. We are lucky to have her on our team."
The Black Knights are back in action this Saturday for the anticipated Army-Navy Star Meet at Shea Stadium. Events will get underway at noon, with the meet being streamed on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
