DENVER ?“ Boise State?™s Keron Francis and Louisiana Tech?™s Nina Gilbert have been named the Xbox Live Western Athletic Conference men?™s and women?™s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively.
Francis, a senior from LaSagesse, Granada, posted the second-best collegiate javelin throw in the country this year at 242-3 (73.85m) in winning the Brutus Hamilton Invitational. The throw was just off his personal best of 243-2 set in 2004, and just a little over three feet shy of the current collegiate leader, Eric Brown of Arkansas at 245-10 (74.94m). This was the first time this year Francis has thrown the javelin in competition.
Gilbert, a junior from Houston, Texas, ran the third fastest time in the nation this past week in the women?™s 400 meters at the Jim Mize Tech Twilight with a time of 52.34. The time is also the best in the WAC, a new school record and regional qualifying mark.
Other Men Nominated: Jason Morgan, Louisiana Tech.
Other Women Nominated: Eleni Kafourou, Boise State and Erin Streater, New Mexico State.