BRENTWOOD, TENN. — Tennessee State senior Robert Hooper has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Men's Track Athlete of the Week after a standout performance at the Vanderbilt Invitational on Jan. 16–17.

Hooper delivered a championship-winning effort in the 800 meters, claiming first place with a time of 1:51.87, the fastest mark in the OVC this season. His performance not only secured the event title but also placed him at the top of the conference leaderboard in the 800.

In addition to his individual success, Hooper played a key role in multiple relays for the Tigers. He anchored the distance medley relay to a third-place finish with a time of 10:57.93, helping Tennessee State record a podium result against strong competition. Hooper also competed as part of the Tigers' 4x400 relay, which finished 12th overall.

Head coach Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice praised Hooper's commitment and growth early in the season.

"I'm excited for Robert this season because he is really buying into training and listening to the strategies that we have mapped out for him," Cheeseborough-Guice said. "I believe his time will go down at our next meet, so I'm excited to see exactly what he can do this year."

Earlier this season, Hooper posted a 4:18.38 in the mile, currently ranking ninth in the OVC, further highlighting his versatility and consistency across middle-distance events.

Hooper's leadership and elite performances continue to anchor a strong Tennessee State men's track program as the Tigers progress through the indoor season.