Despite rainy weather conditions, Big West track and field competition continued as UC Riverside dominated the weekly recognitions with three of the four named athletes of the week, Justin Harris (men’s track), Caleb Stuart (men’s field) and Ashley Gatewood (women’s field), while Long Beach State’s Rosa Del Toro took home Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.
Riverside’s Justin Harris was the fourth fastest collegian at the 2012 Baldy Castillo Invitational, at Arizona State in the 200m last week. Harris finished just 0.11 seconds behind the second place runner to snatch the Big West Men’s Track Athlete of the Week recognition. The Corona native also competed in opening leg of the 4x100 relay to finish fifth overall, with a 41.38 team finish.
Receiving Big West Female Track Athlete of the Week, Del Toro of Glendale finished third overall in her competition at the Aztec Invitational last week. The senior 49er ran a 4:29.36 in the 1500m under inclement weather, just .29 seconds short of her personal best. Del Toro’s performance ranks her No. 4 in the West Region.
In the field events the Highlanders took home both recognitions with Caleb Stuart receiving the Big West Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. The Riverside junior competed in the hammer throw and shot put at the 2012 Baldy Castillo Invitational, hosted by Arizona State. Stuart broke his own school record in hammer with a 204’ 10” throw, lengthening the gap of his nearest conference competitor behind by 11 feet. He also finished sixth in the shot put competition with a distance of 50’ 10.”
The Big West Female Field Athlete of the Week, Ashley Gatewood grabs her second recognition this season for her performance in shot put and hammer. The Montclair native placed fourth in the hammer throw (174’ 8”) and took fifth in the shot put (44’ 11”) at the 2012 Baldy Castillo Invitational. Gatewood recorded a lifetime best and second furthest distance for the conference season in shot put, as well as her hammer throw being tossed to the third highest distance in the Big West this year.
Others nominated: Jahmani Lockett (Long Beach State), Riley Martin (UC Irvine) (Men’s Track)
Alycia Cridebring (UC Davis) (Women’s Track)
Kristen Kiefer (Long Beach State), Katie Barber (UC Davis) (Women’s Field)