After winning a pair of events at the Big West Challenge Cup last weekend, UC Irvine's Ricky Barnes took home his second Big West Men's Track Athlete of the Week award of the 2007 outdoor season.

Barnes (Bakersfield, Calif.) was the gold medal finisher in the 800-meter run (1:52.90) and the 1500-meter run (3:47.39) to claim the honor. On the women's side, UC Santa Barbara's Bethany Nickless (Fountain Valley, Calif.) was voted the winner of the weekly accolade after winning the steeple run at the Stanford Invitational. The junior blistered the course in 10:30.32, besting the second place finisher by 37 seconds and posting the best time in the Big West this season.

The Gauchos took home a second weekly honor as Kyle Baker (Manteca, Calif.) was awarded the Big West Men's Field Athlete of the Week award. The senior claimed the top spot in the javelin as he recorded an effort of 214-4.00 at the Big West Challenge Cup. The women's side of the Field Athlete of the Week was won by Cal Poly's Sharon Day (Costa Mesa, Calif.) after her efforts in at the prestigious Texas Relays. The junior recorded a mark of 6-00 to finish second in the high jump, the top mark in the Big West this season.

Packed Week of Competition on the Horizon for Big West Clubs

With several schools sending split squads to several meets, the upcoming week of track & field for the seven Big West squads promises to be a busy one.

First, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and UC Irvine travel to Azusa for the California Invitational Heptathlon/Decathlon for multi-event competitions Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday, Cal Poly, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara head to Los Angeles for the Jackie Joyner-Kersee/Rafer Johnson Invitational. Those three squads will also send contingents to the Mt. SAC Relays along with the Titans, Cal State Northridge, the 49ers and Anteaters.

If that's not enough, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine and UC Riverside will also send athletes to the APU Meet of Champions in Azusa with competition slated to begin Friday.