Track & Field

Cal Poly's Miller, Long Beach State's Vanderlipe and UC San Diego's Abandonato and Olukanni Claim Weekly Honors

All-Time Weekly Winners >>>

Men's Track Athlete of the Week 
Liam Miller, Cal Poly | Freshman • Torrance, Calif. 
  • 8038Liam Miller of Cal Poly won the 5,000m race at the Aztec Distance Carnival to claim Big West Men's Track Athlete of the Week honor. It is Miller's first career weekly honor. 

  • The Mustang freshman clocked a personal-best 13:56.85 for first place in the 12.5 lap competition. It is the eighth fastest time in school history. 

  • The time is the fastest in The Big West and No. 2 in the country. 

Also nominated: Adam Divinity (CSUN), Francisco Felix (Cal State Bakersfield), Justin Johnson (UC Irvine), Mattheo Lacasia (UC Santa Barbara), Brandon Orlow (UC San DIego), Cameron Rhone (Long Beach State). 

Men's Field Athlete of the Week 
VJ Vanderlipe, Long Beach State | Graduate • Salinas, Calif.
  • 8042Long Beach State's VJ Vanderlipe won the men's pole vault competition at the Ben Brown Invitational to earn Big West Men's Field Athlete of the Week award. It is Vanderlipe's first career weekly honor. 

  • The Beach graduate student placed first in the pole vault at the Ben Brown Invitational with a personal-best clearance of 5.20m/17'0.75". 

  • The mark ranks first in The Big Wets, first in the west region and third in NCAA. 

Also nominated: Elijah Ignacio (CSUN), Zach Lewis (UC San Diego), Jared Nunnemaker (UC Santa Barbara), Chimobi Onye (UC Irvine), Javier Toro (Cal State Bakersfield). 

Women's Track Athlete of the Week 
Allyson Abandonato, UC San Diego | Senior • Corona, Calif.
  • 8138UC San Diego's Allyson Abandonato won the 800m race at the Aztec Coastal Classic to claim The Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Week award. It is Abandonato's first career weekly honor. 

  • The Triton senior crossed finish line of the two-lap race in 2:06.68 to set a new school record. 

  • The time ranks second in The Big West this season. 

Also nominated: Lilit Arakelyan (CSUN), Aofie Hernon (UC Irvine), Zamaria Mack (Long Beach State), Jess Mackenzie (UC Santa Barbara), Makiah Parker (Cal State Bakersfield), Tara Wyllie (Hawai'i).  

Women's Field Athlete of the Week 
Feyi Olukanni, UC San Diego | Senior • Clovis, Calif.
  • 8138UC San Diego's Feyi Olukanni won the shot put competition at the Ben Brown Invitational to earn The Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week honor. It is Olukanni's first career weekly honor. 

  • The Triton senior set a new school record in the shot put with a mark of 15.47m/50'9.25". It ranks first in the NCAA so far this season. 

  • Olukanni also competed in the discus (48.72m/159'10") and hammer throw (50.33m/165'1") and came in fifth and seventh, respectively.

Also nominated: DeAna Davis (UC Irvine), Layanna Green (UC Santa Barbara), Giszelle Hrehor (Long Beach State), Ashleigh Porter (CSUN), Lilian Turban (Hawai'i).