DENVER ? Utah State’s Nick Karren and Idaho’s Russ Winger have been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 14-20. This is the first career WAC Indoor Athlete of the Week honor for Karren and is the fourth career honor for Winger, as he won once as a junior and two times his sophomore season. This is the first season that honors for both “Track” and “Field” athletes will be awarded each week.
Karren, a junior from Duchesne, Utah (Duchesne), came away with two victories last weekend, winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.11 at the Utah State Wilson Motor Invitational in Logan, Utah. Karren also captured the 60-meter hurdles title with a personal best time of 8.23 at the Idaho State Snake River Open in Pocatello, Idaho. His 60-meter hurdles mark is the sixth-fastest time in Utah State history.
Winger, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., (Pine Creek), threw the nation’s top mark in the shot put at the Washington State Open in Pullman, Wash. on Jan. 19, winning the event by nearly 11-feet and broke his own meet record by nearly one foot. His throw of 64’ 2.25” is a NCAA automatic qualifying mark and is the best in the nation by four inches. Winger’s throw is also tied for fifth-best throw in the world this year. He also took second-place in the weight throw wit a toss of 62’ 6.5”.
Other Track nominees included: Paul Dittmer of Idaho made his Vandal debut as he took third and ran the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.15 at the Washington State Open ... Louisiana Tech’s Distance Medley Relay Team of Kinsey Dinnel, Jarrith Jones, Nate Davis and Cory Denstel took first place at the Purple Tiger Indoor Classic in Baton Rouge, La., turning in a time of 10:28.89 for the lead finish.
Other Field nominees included: Larry Jones of Louisiana Tech finished in first-place in the shot put at the Purple Tiger Indoor Classic with a throw of 47’ 7.75” as he made his Bulldog debut ... Jon Strang of Utah State recorded a second-place and personal best high jump of 6’ 9.75”, the ninth-best in school history, at the Idaho State Snake River Open, and was also third in the long jump with a leap of 21’ 10”.
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