Malaspina, Grijalva, Jones, Leonard Named #BigSkyTF Athletes of the Week
FARMINGTON, Utah, (February 17, 2020) – Northern Arizona took home two weekly #BigSkyTF honors with the women’s track and the men’s track athlete of the week.
NAU’s Mikayla Malaspina was named the Big Sky women’s track athlete of the week while her male counterpart Luis Grijalva was named the men’s track athlete of the week.
Morgan Jones from Sacramento State took home women’s field athlete of the week honors and Grady Leonard received the men’s field athlete of the week.
Malaspina competed at the Husky Classic in the 5,000 meters where she set a personal best with a time of 16:11.00. Malaspina shattered her previous fastest 5K time of 16:26.74 by more than 15 seconds and she now ranks 23rd in the country.
Grijalva broke the NAU indoor record, posted the fastest time in the country this season and the sixth-fastest all-time collegiate time of 7:43.73 in the 3000m at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational. He placed first overall in the event at the meet and bested his previous best time by almost 12 seconds.
Jones extended her Big Sky lead in the weight throw and took over as the school record holder in the event following her performance at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational on Thursday in Albuquerque, N.M. Jones had a throw of 66-07.25 (20.30m) on her second of six attempts to claim the Hornet record. Her previous best was 64-10.75 earlier this season. On Thursday, her first five attempts were over 62-feet before she fouled on her final try. Jones leads the Big Sky is now tied for 34th in NCAA Div. I this season.
Leonard was third in the shot put at the Tyson Invitational with a mark of 59-11.25 (18.27m) which puts him second in the conference behind only teammate Zack Short. Leonard also took fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 18.27 which is just short of his season's best.
Other Women’s Track Athletes Nominated: Mikayla Revera, Sacramento State; Emily Morgan-King, Weber State; Kelsi Schuetz, Northern Colorado; Nyenuchi Okemgbo, Eastern Washington; Kaila Gibson, Portland State; Maizy Brewer, Idaho; June Eastwood, Montana; Linea Saltz, Southern Utah; McKenna Ramsay, Montana State
Other Women’s Field Athletes Nominated: Sophie Merritt, Weber State; Kimberly Buchanan, Northern Arizona; Kylie Chavez, Northern Colorado; Savannah Schultz, Eastern Washington; Karina Moreland, Idaho; Lucy Corbett, Montana State
Other Men’s Track Athletes Nominated: Jabari Reynolds, Sacramento State; Nate Osterstock, Southern Utah; Kyle Thomas, Northern Colorado; Parker Bowden, Eastern Washington; Chase Lovercheck, Portland State; Spencer Barrera, Idaho; Paul Johnstone, Montana; Drake Schneider, Montan State; Muamer Mujic, Weber State
Other Men’s Field Athletes Nominated: Jevin Kitchen, Sacramento State; William Beaudry, Northern Arizona; Garrett Peoples, Eastern Washington, Trey Deveraux, Weber State