DENVER - Utah Valley's Savannah Berry and Grand Canyon's Sasha-Gaye Marston have been named Western Athletic Conference Track & Field Athletes of the week, respectively, for Feb 1-7.
Berry, a sophomore from Bakersfield, California (Highland HS) won the 5,000m run and set a new school record with a time of 17:44.57. She is currently in first place in the WAC in the 5k.
Marston, a junior from Clarendon, Jamaica (Edwin Allen) finished in second place overall with a throw of 17.78 meters that now ranks first overall in the WAC. Marston's throw came on her third attempt of the day. Her previous best came from the NAU Team Challenge on Jan. 16 where she recorded a mark of 16.45 meters.
Other track nominees: Grand Canyon's Emily Wilkinson continued her tear on the GCU indoor record books, this time breaking Rebekah Young's 3,000-meter school record of 10:21.05 that she had set just two weeks ago at the Cherry and Silver Invitational, also at the University of New Mexico. Racing at altitude, Wilkinson finished in third place with a time of 10:12.40, one that converts to 9:57.31 at sea level. Wilkinson is now first in the WAC standings in the 3,000 meters. Seattle U's Olivia Stein finished in second place out of 20, and first among Seattle U runners, in the 3,000 meter run with a time of 10:11.26, setting a new personal indoor record.
Other field nominees: Seattle U's Mandie Maddux broke three indoor personal records in all three events she competed in (shot put, long jump, 60 meter hurdles), including an indoor school record in the shot put. Even more impressive, all three events she competed in started within 15 minutes of each other. Maddux threw 11.91 meters (39'-1â€) in the shot put (the new indoor school record), went a new distance of 5.04 meters (16'-6.5â€) in the long jump, and set a new time of 9.33 in the 60 meter hurdles. The indoor school record in shot put had previously been tied by Maddux last season, was then broken by Maddux in the first meet of this season, and now, was broken once again by Maddux herself. Utah Valley's Jordan Sieferman threw a 14.05m in the weight throw.