DENVER ? Utah State’s James Allred and Boise State’s Ryan Grinnell have been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for April 6 ? 12.
Allred, a sophomore from Helena, Mont. (Capital HS), won his heat in the 800m at the UCLA Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational in Los Angeles last weekend. His time of 1:52.94 stands as a WAC-best and was good for fifth overall among the pool of 21 teams competing. The sophomore also ran the third leg of the USU 4x400m relay and helped the Aggies to an eighth-place finishing, clocking in at 3:15.73. This is the first Athlete of the Week honor for Allred.
Grinnell, a junior from Idaho Falls, Idaho (Skyline HS/University of Montana), won the university division triple jump at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Ariz., with a jump of 53-3.75 (16.25m), a mark which is a NCAA regional qualifying mark. He also recorded a second regional qualifying mark with a leap of 24-2.25 (7.57m) in the long jump, which earned him a fourth-place finish at the meet. Both jumps stand as conference bests, while he is the only student-athlete in the conference to garner a regional qualifying mark in the long jump. This marks the first time in his career he has earned the Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award.
Other track nominees included: Boise State’s 4x100 relay team.
Other field nominees included: Utah State’s Tyler Ellis.