Schneider, Joens, Allen, Diggs Named #BigSkyTF Athletes of the Week
FARMINGTON, Utah (April 19, 2021) – Four track and field student-athletes were honored as athletes of the week for their performances this past weekend.
Men's Track Athlete of the Week – Drake Schneider (Montana State)
Drake Schneider continued his impressive outdoor season at the Bengal Invitational in Pocatello. In the 400-meter hurdle preliminary race, Schneider completed a time of 51.23 seconds which topped his previous school-record mark.
In the finals on Saturday, Schneider ran an even quicker time of 50.12 seconds. His altitude-converted time of 50.23 seconds was just .08 away from breaking the Big Sky Conference record previously set in 1996.
His first-place finishing time ranks him ninth in all of Division I and is the 22nd fastest time recorded in the world this year. He also was a member of MSU's 4x400 relay that placed first at the invite with a time of 3:14.82. That mark sits atop the Big Sky performance list
Others Nominated: Bronson Winter, Weber State; Daniel Gaik, Eastern Washington; Sam Lingwall, Portland State; Santiago Gomez-Prosser, Northern Arizona; Jesse Hayward, Northern Colorado; Jabari Reynolds, Sacramento State; Caleb Hagan, Idaho; Collin Dylia, Idaho State
Men's Field Athlete of the Week – Parker Joens (Northern Arizona)
The men's shot put was championed by senior Parker Joens, throwing not only a personal best but a new UNLV Myron Partridge Stadium facility record of 19.01 meters. This mark lands Joen's at the top of the conference and currently ranks 19th in the NCAA.
After a triumphant performance on Friday, Joens delivered again on Saturday. After throwing a personal-best mark of 56.34 meters, Joens placed first in the men's discus and broke yet another UNLV Myron Partridge Stadium facility record.
Joens' mark currently maintains his second-place spot in the Big Sky and 25th in the NCAA.
Others Nominated: Lachlan Burns, Weber State; Zach Klobutcher, Eastern Washington; Alec Nehring, Montana State; Tyler Thimsen, Northern Colorado; Evan Stork, Sacramento State; Zachary Nunis, Idaho, Zack Ramos, Idaho State; Evan Todd, Montana
Women's Track Athlete of the Week – Summer Allen (Weber State)
Summer Allen shattered the stadium record in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase, with a converted time of 9:59 to win first place in her first steeplechase of the season at the ISU Bengal Invitational.
This time is ranked ninth in the NCAA and first in the Big Sky Conference this season.
Others Nominated: LaTrouchka Duke, Sacramento State; Faith Kennedy, Eastern Washington; Phoebe Brown, Portland State; Jeralyn Poe, Northern Arizona; Wendira Moss, Northern Colorado; Elizabeth butler, Idaho State; Malaina Thacker, Idaho
Women's Field Athlete of the Week – Alaina Diggs (Northern Arizona)
At the UNLV Silver State Classic on Friday, freshman Alaina Diggs dominated the women's shot put and threw a personal-best mark of 16.13 meters to earn her the No. 1 spot in the conference and 39th in the NCAA.
Others Nominated: Shantel Nnaji, Sacramento State; Kapua Pulotu, Weber State; Savannah Scultz, Eastern Washington; Carley VonHeeder, Montana State; Mackenzie Pettit, Northern Colorado; Jessica Swannack, Idaho State; Hannah Ringel, Idaho; Tanessa Morris, Montana
Previous Winners
3/22/2021
W. Track: Lexie Thompson (WSU)
M. Track: Parker Bowden (EWU)
W. Field: Kimberly Buchanan (NAU)
M. Field: Parker Joens (NAU)
3/29/2021
W. Track: Malaina Thacker (UI)
M. Track: Parker Bowden (EWU)
W. Field: Ashley VanVleet-Sturgis (ISU)
M. Field: Treyshon Malone (ISU)
4/5/2021
W. Track: Lexie Thompson (WSU)
M. Track: C. Ricketts (SUU)
W. Field: Morgan Fossen (EWU)
M. Field: Ethan Saberhagen (MSU)
4/12/2021
W. Track: Jeralyn Poe (NAU)
M Track: Luis Grijalva, (NAU)
W. Field: Lauren Olsen (WSU)
M. Field: Parker Joens (NAU)