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OGDEN, Utah (February 6, 2017) – The Big Sky Conference has selected the latest men’s and women’s Track and Field Athletes of the Week. Northern Arizona swept the women’s honors, with Paige Gilchrist being named Track Athlete of the Week and Brooke Andersen earning her third women’s field nod this season. On the men’s side, Montana State’s Diego Leon took home track honors while Idaho’s Arphaxad Carroll claimed the field weekly nod.
Gilchrist, a junior from Missoula, Mont., won the mile at the NAU Mountain T’s Invitational with a personal-best time of 4 minutes, 50.95 seconds. That time converts to 4:40.38, putting her in the conference lead by over 10 seconds and ranking her 23rd in the nation. Gilchrist shattered her previous personal best by over 23 seconds. She also ranks third in the Big Sky in the 3,000 meters, an event she earned all-conference honors in last season.
Leon, a junior from Hollister, Calif., made some school history with his performance in the mile at the MSU-ISU-WSU Dual meet in Bozeman. Leon won the event in a time of 4:07.52, which converts to 3:59.13 after altitude and track-size conversions. He claimed the conference lead with that time and now ranks 11th in the country, being one of just 16 runners in Division I with a sub-four mile time. Leon joins former MSU standouts Patrick Casey and Cristian Soratos as the only Bobcats with a sub-four time to their names.
Andersen, a junior from Vista, Calif., finished her climb up the league record books, breaking the Big Sky record in the weight throw. She erupted for a throw of 68 feet, 5 3/4 inches (20.87m) on her first attempt, to take over the No. 1 spot formerly held by Idaho State’s Maureen Griffin (68-0 1/4, 2001). Andersen has been steadily moving up the top-10 lists this season, jumping up to fifth in her opening meet, second in the next one and now the top spot in her third meet of the year. She now sits 11th in the country with that mark.
Carroll. a junior from Las Vegas, Nev., won the long jump at the Idaho Duals with a personal-best leap of 24-9 (7.54m). Heading into his final attempt of the competition ranking second, Carroll saved the best for last to get the victory and improve on his season best by nearly three inches. He leads the Big Sky in that event by over seven inches and additionally ranks 32nd nationally. Carroll is coming off a stellar 2016 outdoor season with the Vandals, as he won the Big Sky title and went on to claim second team All-America honors in the long jump.
Other Women’s Track Nominations: Carli Corpus - Eastern Washington; Kara Story - Idaho; Sasha Kent - Idaho State; Reagan Colyer - Montana; Christie Schiel - Montana State; Cammy Sargent - Northern Colorado; Akayla Anderson - Portland State; Tawnie Moore - Weber State
Other Women’s Field Nominations: Anandae Clark - Eastern Washington; Rechelle Meade - Idaho; Bailey Woodbury - Idaho State; Hana Feilzer - Montana; Isabella Calabrese - Montana State; Katelyn Weber - North Dakota; Juliette Cossey - Northern Colorado; Nia Powdrell - Portland State; Garazi Larrakoetxea - Weber State
Other Men’s Track Nominations: Jonah Mathews - Eastern Washington; Nathan Stark - Idaho; Robert Counts - Idaho State; Sterling Reneau - Montana; James Fisher - Northern Arizona; Mitchell Gable - Portland State; Ryan Carlson - Weber State
Other Men’s Field Nominations: Aaron Cunningham - Eastern Washington; Kyle LeBlanc - Idaho State; Calvin Root - Montana State; Cody Mach - North Dakota; Adam Keenan - Northern Arizona; Jayson Dupre - Northern Colorado; Donte Robinson - Portland State; Brendan Shelley - Weber State