The Big West Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards were distributed among four schools as outstanding performances took place across three different meets.
Cal State Fullerton senior Javon May (Lakewood, Calif./Long Beach Poly HS) notched Men's Track Athlete of the Week honors. He ran a season-best 52.53 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla. last weekend. The mark placed him 14th overall in the event, and represented the second-fastest time in the Big West this season. It also ranked 31st in the NCAA West Region.
UC Riverside senior Travis Smith (Clovis, Calif./Clovis West HS) outclassed a field of competitors from Oklahoma, Iowa State and host Arizona State to win the Premiere Section of the shot put at the Sun Angel Classic. He broke his own school record by more than a foot, throwing 61-8.25 (18.80m) for Men's Field Athlete of the Week accolades. The distance ranks as tops in the Big West by more than four-and-a-half feet, as well as third-best in the West Region and sixth nationally. Smith also finished in sixth place in the Premiere Section of the discus with a toss of 169-6 (51.66m). He ranks third in the Big West in the discus, and 26th in the region.
The Women's Track Athlete of the Week nod went to UC Davis senior Kayla Carter (Woodbridge, Calif./Lodi HS). She posted personal-best times in both the 100 and 400 hurdles in the Open Section of the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State. Her 100H time of 13.81 seconds was her fastest FAT time in the event, bettering her previous best of 14.01 set last year. Finishing eighth in the event, Carter's mark placed her at No. 2 on the school's all-time leaders list and made her only the second UC Davis woman to break 14 seconds using FAT timing. Her time also ranks No. 1 in the Big West this season. In addition, Carter ran a 1:00.70 in the Open 400 hurdles to place third in the event and etch her name in the No. 3 spot on the UCD all-time list. The showing bested her previous PR of 1:00.73 set last season.
For the third straight week, the Women's Field Athlete of the Week honor was bestowed upon Hawai‘i. Junior Joanna Franke-Kuhn (Duncan, British Columbia/Frances Kelsey SS) earned this week's award after Amanda Alvarez had captured the honor the previous two weeks. Franke-Kuhn excelled in the hammer at the UH-hosted Rainbow Relays, hurling a meet record 188-3 (57.39m). The throw broke the record of 177-0 (53.96m) that she set last year. Franke-Kuhn ranks No. 1 in the Big West in the hammer.
Others nominated (Men's Track): Hernell Dyer (UC Riverside)
Others nominated (Men's Field): Devin Bennett (Cal Poly)
Others nominated (Women's Track): Katie Wilson (Cal State Fullerton); Damajeria Dubose (UC Riverside)
Others nominated (Women's Field): Danielle Bryan (Cal Poly)