This week in WAC Outdoor Track and Field - April 27
This week in WAC Outdoor Track and Field - April 27
WAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN
Stephen F. Austin's Jeremiah Curry and Grand Canyon's Marten Gasparini has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for April 20 through April 24.
Curry, a senior from Jacksonville, Ark., sprinted to break the school record and win the 200-meter dash at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational, Saturday. He recorded a career best time of 20.41 seconds, placing him first in the WAC and 19th in the NCAA performance lists according to TFRRS. His time broke a 21-year-old school record set by Ron Clark (20.60) in 1991.
Gasparini, a junior from Alture di Ruda, Italy, broke the school record and entered the NCAA top-10 in javelin throw at the ASU Twilight Collegiate, Friday through Saturday. He won the event marking 76.28m (250' 3") to place first in the WAC and seventh in the NCAA performance list, updating GCU's event record that was set by Jesse Newman (71.57m/234' 9.7"") in 2019.
Other track nominees: Abilene Christian's Jamal January placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.91 seconds and 11th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.50 seconds, both second in the WAC performance list, at the Michael Johnson Invitational, Friday through Saturday … Grand Canyon's Aidan Diggs placed third in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.28 seconds at the ASU Twilight Collegiate … Lamar's Declan Neary won the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:53.05, placing him second in the WAC performance list, at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight, Saturday … Utah Valley's Zane Farrer won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.07 seconds at the BYU Robison, Wednesday through Saturday.
Other field nominees: Lamar's Kenson Tate won the long jump with a 7.60m (24' 11.25") mark, putting him second in the WAC performance list, at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight … Stephen F. Austin's Branson Ellis won the pole vault with a 5.35m (17' 6.5"), good for second in the WAC and 22nd in the NCAA performance lists, at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational … Utah Valley's Seth Krauss won the high jump with a 2.15m (7' 0.5") mark, first in the WAC and 22nd in the NCAA performance lists, at the BYU Robison Invitational.
WOMEN
Grand Canyon's Anaya Bailey and Stephen F. Austin's Nissi Kabongo has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for April 20 through April 24.
Bailey, a graduate student from Chandler, Ariz., placed third in the 400-meter run at the ASU Twilight Collegiate, Friday through Saturday. Her time of 54.04 seconds granted her the top spot in the WAC performance list and 40th in the NCAA west region, according to TFRRS.
Kabongo, a junior from Plano, Texas, won the high jump at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational, Saturday. She led the field by 0.13m (3") winning with a mark of 1.83m (6' 0") just under her personal best of 1.85m (6' 0.75"). Her performance puts her first in the WAC and 12th in the NCAA performance lists.
Other track nominees: Abilene Christian's Taylor Tolen placed 14th in the 100-meter dash, putting herself as the WAC top sprinter with a time of 11.57 seconds at the Michael Johnson Invitational, Friday through Saturday … Lamar's Yasmin Austridge placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:09.48 at the J. Fred Duckett Twilight, Saturday … Utah Valley's Larissa Dabb finished as runner-up in the 400-meter run with a time of 55.11 seconds at the BYU Robison Invitational, Wednesday through Saturday.
Other field nominees: Abilene Christian's Annina Brandenburg placed third in shot put (16.50m/54' 1.75") and fourth in discus throw (54.97m/180' 4") at the Michael Johnson Invitational … Chicago State's Miahna Harden won the long jump with a 5.97m (19' 7") mark at the Illini Invitational, Friday through Saturday … NM State's Emily Hernandez placed second in hammer throw with a career best mark of 57.52m (188' 8") at the Don Kirby Tailwind Open, Thursday … Utah Valley's Kallie Given placed second in high jump with a mark of 1.70m (5' 7") at the BYU Robison Invitational.
UP NEXT
MEETS
Chicago State will start the weekend early as they go on the road at the Drake Relays, Wednesday.
As the weekend rolls on, Abilene Christian will be hosting teams including Stephen F. Austin in the Oliver Jackson Twilight, Thursday. Tarleton will start the weekend in the same day at the UT Arlington Invitational.
California Baptist will start running again after a week off at the Fresno State Invite, Friday. A group of the Utah Valley Wolverines will be competing at the Bengal Invitational while another group will see Seattle U at the OSU High Performance Meet.
To close off the week, Lamar will be competing at the Aggie Invitational, Saturday. That same day, NM State will be at the Desert Heat Classic, Ut Rio Grande Valley will be at the Alumni Muster while Utah Valley will be joining CBU for the second day of the Fresno State Invitational.