DENVER ? Utah State’s Erin Stratton and Idaho’s Mykael Bothum have been named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Apr. 21-27. This is the first career WAC Outdoor Athlete of the Week honor for both Stratton and Bothum. This is the first season that honors for both “Track” and “Field” athletes will be awarded each week.
Stratton, a sophomore from Aurora, Colo., (Smoky Hills) ran an NCAA Regional qualifying 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, in Berkeley, Calif., clocking a personal-best time of 10:38.18 to win the event. Her time is a 15-second improvement over her previous best. It also ranks second in the WAC this season and is the third-fastest in Aggie history.
Bothum, a junior from Hermiston, Ore., (Hermiston) broke the Vandal school record in the shot put at the Cougar Invitational in Pullman, Wash., with an NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 51’ 5.75” (15.69m) to win the event. Her toss also broke the Cougar Invitational meet record and ranks fifth in the West Region and 23rd in the NCAA. Bothum also took second in the discus with a distance of 145’ 6” (44.36m).
Other Track nominees included: Kayleen McDowell of Boise State finished third in the 800-meter run at the Robison Invitational in Provo, Utah, with a WAC-best and NCAA Regional qualifying time of 2:09.52 ... Roxanne Sellick of Fresno State took fourth in the 1,500-meter run at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkeley, Calif., with an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 4:48.94 ... Christie Gordon of Idaho tied a personal-best in the 100-meter hurdles with an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 13.90, finishing first in the event at the Cougar Invitational in Pullman, Wash. ... Amanda Gramly of Nevada ran a WAC-best and personal-best time of 17:28.38 in the 5,000-meter run, finishing fourth at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational.
Other Field nominees included: Sharon Ayala of Fresno State took the sliver medal in the hammer throw at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkeley, Calif., registering a WAC-best and NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 195’ 8” (59.63m) ... Constance McAlman of Nevada threw a personal-best and NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 183’ 7” (55.96m) in the hammer throw to finish second at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, and also took sixth in the discus (147’ 11.5”/45.11m) and fifth in the shot put (43’ 1”/13.13m) ... Sonia Grabowska of Utah State improved her season-best with an NCAA Regional qualifying height of 12’ 8” (3.86m) in the pole vault, finishing second at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational.
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