A trio of UC Davis competitors joined a UC Riverside thrower as the recipients of the Big West Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards.

UC Davis senior Nathan Strum (San Jose, Calif./Pioneer HS) received Big West Men’s Track Athlete of the Week recognition as he finished first in the “Premiere” section of the mile at the Arizona State-hosted Sun Angel Classic.  Strum ran the mile in 4:01.39.  His time converts to 3:43.51 (per TFRRS) for the 1,500.  The 1,500 conversion ranks (per TFRRS) No. 1 in the Big West, No. 6 in the West Region and No. 12 nationally.  The converted mark also moves him up one spot to No. 3 in the Aggie career record book for the 1,500.

Aggie senior Kellie Grigg (Alameda, Calif./Alameda HS) competed in a pair of events at the Sun Angel Classic and came away with the Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Week award.  Grigg came in sixth place in the “Premiere” section of the 400 hurdles with a time of 59.70.  The mark ranks No. 2 in the Big West (per TFRRS), No. 20 in the West Region and No. 45 in the nation.  She also finished 11th in 14.79 seconds in the 100 hurdles.

UC Riverside senior thrower Caleb Stuart (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly HS) posted a pair of top-two finishes at the Sun Angel Track Classic for Big West Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors.  Stuart won the “Premiere” section in the hammer throw with a heave of 215-02 (65.59m) and placed second in the shot put at 54-11.25 (16.74m).  He hit his mark in the hammer on his first attempt.  Stuart is the Big West leader in the hammer by more than 20 feet, and ranks fourth in the shot put.

Sophomore Praise Adesida (Martinez, Calif./Alhambra HS) gave UC Davis a third honoree as the Big West Women’s Field Athlete of the Week.  Adesida’s 49-06.25 (15.09m) throw in the shot put won her the event at the Mondo Mid-Major Challenge hosted by Sacramento State.  That toss places her (per TFRRS) No. 2 in the Big West and No. 30 in the West Region while improving her standing to No. 2 on the Aggie career list.  She also placed sixth in the discus with a throw of 138-07 (42.24m).

Others nominated (Men’s Track): Luis Matos (Cal State Fullerton); Michael Perez-Rogers (Long Beach State); Michael Koger (UC Riverside); Shyan Vaziri (UC Santa Barbara)

Others nominated (Women’s Track): Deena Pierce (Cal State Fullerton); Kayla Goosby (Long Beach State); Tori Tsolis (UC Santa Barbara)

Others nominated (Men’s Field): Devin Bennett (Cal Poly); Malik Johnson (Cal State Fullerton); Adam Bianchessi (Long Beach State); Brandon Greenberg (UC Davis); Albert Hughes (UC Santa Barbara)

Others nominated (Women’s Field): Jasmyne Davis (Cal State Fullerton); Kayla Kamaka (Long Beach State); Jacquelyn DuBois (UC Riverside); Jessica Emde (UC Santa Barbara)