DENVER ? Utah State’s Steve Strickland and Boise State’s Zacharias Arnos have been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for March 30 ? April 5.
Strickland, a junior from Orem, Utah (Mountain View HS), ran for a school record in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 8:49.53. He took home first place honors at the Oregon Invitational over the weekend with the WAC-leading run. His time bettered an 11-year USU mark of 8:50.34 by Michael Kelly set in 1998. Strickland's time was also a NCAA regional qualifying time. The 8:49.53 is now a WAC-best time by over one minute with the second-best mark held by La Tech’s Kinsey Dinnel at 9:32.47. His time is also 28 seconds off the WAC record of 8:21.48 set in 1995 by Jim Svenoy of UTEP.
Arnos, a junior from Nicosia, Greece (Archbishop Mauarios III Lyceum), won the triple jump at the All-Idaho Cup last weekend with a leap of 51-04.25 (15.65m.) His jump was enough to earn him a NCAA regional qualifying mark and is currently the fifth-longest jump in the nation. Arnos’ jump leads the WAC by more than three and a half feet.
Other track nominees included: Boise State’s Per Strandquist, Fresno State’s Mitchell Pfyl, Idaho’s James Clark and Louisiana Tech’s Billy Walker.
Other field nominees included: Fresno State’s DeAnte Brown, Idaho’s James Rogan, Louisiana Tech’s Larry Jones and Utah State’s Tyler Ellis.