DENVER ? Utah State’s Steve Strickland and Boise State’s Simon Wardhaugh have been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for April 27 ? May 3.
Strickland, a junior from Orem, Utah (Mountain View HS), improved on his own school record time this past weekend. Strickland ran the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this season in the 3,000m steeplechase Friday night at the Ohio State Jesse Owens Track Classic, clocking an 8:42.71. The 8:42.71 by Strickland is the fourth-fastest in the NCAA, behind Corey Thorne of Louisville with an 8:39.19. It also is an NCAA regional time, as well as improving on his school record time of 8:49.53, which he previously set on April 5 at the Oregon Invitational. Strickland's time also improves on his top mark in the WAC this season. This is the second time this season he has earned the WAC Track Athlete of the Week award.
Wardhaugh, a senior from Bracken Ridge, Australia (University of Queensland), won the hammer throw at the Bronco Twilight on Friday with a toss of 223-11 (68.24m) in Boise. The mark, which is his top throw so far this season, stands as the top throw in the WAC and the fourth-best in the nation. Wardhaugh’s throw is better than the next-best toss in the conference by more than 12 feet. The toss stands as a regional qualifying mark and is the fourth-consecutive year he has qualified for the NCAA West Regional. This marks the first time this outdoor season that the senior has garnered the WAC weekly honor.
Other track nominees included: Fresno State’s Val-Pierre Dai’Re, Idaho’s Sam Michener and Louisiana Tech’s Albert Fullwood.
Other field nominees included: Fresno State’s Tim Greene, Idaho’s Jeremy Klas, Louisiana Tech’s Jonathan Keys and Utah State’s Dusty Ott.