Big West competition closed in on the final two weeks of regular season competition last week with stellar performances at the Oxt Invitational and the first weekend of the Big West Track and Field Championships for the Multi-Events.  The Gauchos stole three spots for honors this week as the Big West Male Track Athlete of the Week goes to Shyan Vaziri, Big West Male Field Athlete of the Week, Derek Masterson and Big West Female Field Athlete of the Week, Barbara Nwaba.  The Big West Female Track Athlete of the Week was awarded to Katie Wilson of Cal State Fullerton.

The San Diego, Calif. native, Vaziri competed for the Gauchos at the Oxy Invite last week running in the 800-meter.  The freshman broke into the top-10 in all-time 800-meter list for UC Santa Barbara with his 1:50.21 finish.  He placed 13th out of the 70 runners competing while nabbing the 8th position in Gauchos all-time list.
 
Wilson competed at the Oxy Invitational running the 400-meter and 4x100 with two top finishes for this week’s Big West Female Track Athlete of the Week.  Wilson marked a 54.03 in the 400-meter to seal the No. 1 time recorded in the Big West.  This is the third week in a row that the sophomore has improved her personal record to be ranked 36th in the West Region.  Wilson was also a part of the first place relay team running the third leg of the race for Fullerton.

Masterson set the pace at the Big West Track and Field Mutli’s Championship last week with a top finish in the decathlon.  The Gaucho senior won the meet with his score of 7,355 which was over 350 points from second place.  From Placerville, California, Masterson set a personal record in the 110 hurdles with a clocked time of 15.13, 7.23 in the long jump, as well as 14.21m in shot put.  He now sits in third place on the all-time UC Santa Barbara decathlon list.

Nwaba continued the success on the women’s side for the Big West Multi-Event Finals dominating the heptathlon last week.  The Gauchos senior set a Big West meet record in the heptathlon with a 5,709 mark and continues to hold the conference record with a high score of 5,986.  Nwaba led all four events on day one of competition and led one of the three events on day two.  



Others nominated: Melanise Chapman (UC Davis), Cassie Brooker (UC Santa Barbara) (Women’s Track)