DENVER ? Boise State’s Erik Whitsitt and Idaho’s Melinda Owen have been named the Western Athletic Conference Men and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of April 23-29. It is the second athlete of the week honor for Whitsitt and the first for Owen this outdoor track and field season.
Whitsitt, a senior from Pueblo, Colo. (Pueblo HS), won the shot put at the Bronco Twilight with a toss of 61-9.00 (18.82m) last weekend. The mark is first in the WAC and the ninth-best in the nation so far this season. It was also an improvement on his previous NCAA regional mark this season, and the third-best shot put in Boise State history.
Owen, a senior from Polson, Mont. (Polson HS), hit an NCAA Regional mark for the fifth-straight week, clearing 13-5.25 (4.10m) to win the event at the Duane Hartman Invitational last weekend to extend her WAC lead in the event. The mark is tied for eighth in the nation this year and is just one inch away from her own school record, which she set last season. Owen is ranked fourth in the latest Trackwire Dandy Dozen.
Other men nominated: Dave Endler, junior, Fresno State; Diego Moreno-Guzman, junior, Idaho and Dasheek Akwenye, senior, Utah State.
Other women nominated: Megan Olivetti, sophomore, Boise State; Samantha Modeste, senior, Fresno State; Lasadies McClain, senior, Louisiana Tech; Candyce Allen, sophomore, New Mexico State and Amber Peterson, senior, Utah State.
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