DENVER - NM State's Katara Nelson and Grand Canyon's Tarasue Barnett have been named Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for March 21-27.
Nelson, a junior from Arlington, Texas (South Grand Prairie HS) ran the 100m with a time of 11.96 and the 200m with a time of 24.31 at the UTEP Springtime Invitational. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the WAC in both events.
Barnett, a junior from Kingston, Jamaica (Edwin Allen) broke the school record in the discus throw at the Aztec Invitational with a throw of 58.99m. Barnett's throw placed her second in the meet, but the mark currently ranks as the No. 3 throw in the entire country. She has the WAC lead in the event by 12.40 meters (46.68 ft). She also placed 11th in the shot put with a throw of 13.46m, the second-best mark in the WAC this season.
Other track nominees: Chicago State's Zhate' Jackson set a personal-best time of 24.62 to finish ninth in the 200-meter dash at the UNF Spring Break Invitational as she came close to breaking the school record in the event. She now ranks second on the WAC's performance list in the event. Grand Canyon's Briana Myers won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.64, which tied her collegiate best set last year. After conversion, Myers' time is No. 1 in the WAC for the 60m hurdles. In addition to the hurdles, Myers ran the 60 meters where she placed third with a time of 7.78, on hundredth of a second of her personal best from a year ago. Her time is the No. 8 mark in the WAC this season. NM State's Marissa Gonzales set a new school record in the Pole Vault with a mark of 3.75m. UT Rio Grande Valley's Geneva Anderson posted a sixth place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the Victor Lopez Classic after crossing the finish line with a time of 1:02.78, which currently ranks first in the WAC. She then helped her 4x400-meter relay team to 10th place finish as they posted a time of 3:57.63.
Other field nominees: Chicago State's Arieta Vaimaona recorded a throw of 42-00 (12.89 meters) to set a personal-best mark and placed sixth at the UNF Spring Break Invitational. UT Rio Grande Valley's Leocajuan Williams posted a third place finish in the triple jump at the Victor Lopez Classic. She set a new career best after a jump of 12.39 meters, which currently ranks first in the WAC this season. Her jump also now ranks second in program history.