OGDEN, Utah (February 16, 2016) – The Big Sky Conference has selected men’s and women’s Track and Field Athletes of the Week. Familiar faces earned the women’s honors as Eastern Washington’s Kaytlyn Coleman (field) and Weber State’s Jamie Stokes (track) claimed their third Athlete of the Week honors of the season. Idaho’s Matt Sullivan earned the men’s field honors and Northern Arizona’s Futsum Zienasellassie became the men’s track Athlete of the Week for a second time this year.
Stokes, a senior from Ogden, Utah, improved on her No. 2 all-time Big Sky and school record time in the mile at the Husky Classic. She crossed the finish line in 4 minutes, 35.83 seconds and was the top collegiate placer, finishing second overall behind Natalia Pilusina from Brooks Beast, a professional running club. That time inched Stokes closer to the Big Sky record of 4:32.49 set by Northern Arizona’s Johanna Nilsson in 2003. It also moved Stokes up in the rankings nationally, now sitting sixth in the country for Division I.
Zienasellassie, a junior from Indianapolis, Ind., once again put together a nationally-recognized performance, this time in the 3,000 meters at the Iowa State Classic. He finished fourth in the event, clocking a time of 7:53.76 that ranks fifth in Big Sky history and 14th nationally. Zienasellassie has made a case for a national bid in three distance events this season, ranking second in the mile (3:56.98@) and eighth (13:44.89) in the 5,000. The 2015 Big Sky Most Valuable Athlete indoors ranks first in the league in those events as well.
Coleman, a senior from Kennewick, Wash., surpassed a school record for the second straight week in the weight throw at the Husky Classic. She launched a toss of 67 feet, 3 1/2 inches (20.51m) to win the event and vault up to No. 2 all-time in Big Sky history. Coleman now only trails conference record holder Maureen Griffin of Idaho State, who had a mark of 68-0 1/4 back in 2001. This is the third Athlete of the Week selection for Coleman, who owns the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse record heading into the Big Sky Championships there. Her new career-best mark ranks 16th nationally amongst Division I competitors.
Sullivan, a senior from Caldwell, Idaho, cleared the bar at 17-1 3/4 (5.23m) to place fifth overall in a stacked field of the pole vault at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. He was the third best collegiate finisher at the meet and also set an indoor personal best. That clearance ranks 33rd in the country and first in the Big Sky. The senior has cleared 16-2 or higher in each appearance this year, which is his first season back with the Vandals since 2014 outdoors.
Other Women’s Track Nominations: Katie Mahoney - Eastern Washington; Kinsey Gomez - Idaho; Taylor Hewett - Idaho State; Kaylee Schmitz - Montana State; Nicole Fotinos - Northern Arizona; Moriah Zachary - Northern Colorado; Whitney Diggs - Portland State; Chloe Berlioux - Sacramento State; Ashley Hawks - Southern Utah
Other Women’s Field Nominations: Kolcie Bates - Idaho; Bailey Woodbury - Idaho State; Erika McLeod - Montana; Molli Detloff - North Dakota; Jessica Weise - Northern Arizona; Alisha Allen - Northern Colorado; ChaQuinn Cook - Portland State; Candice Dominguez - Sacramento State; Desirae Cruse - Weber State
Other Men’s Track Nominations: Jeremy VanAssche - Eastern Washington; Ben Ayesu-Attah - Idaho; Daniel Garz - Idaho State; Dominque Bobo - Montana; Nate Peterson - North Dakota; Alex Mead - Northern Colorado; Mitchell Gable - Portland State; Aric Walden - Sacramento State; Hayden Hawks - Southern Utah; Jonathan McUne - Weber State
Other Men’s Field Nominations: Larry Still - Eastern Washington; Khalil Abdul-Hakim - Idaho State; Rolyce Boston - Northern Colorado; Rockwell Tufty - Portland State; Steven Pust - Sacramento State; Jayson Kovar - Southern Utah; Justin Herbert - Weber State