FARMINGTON, Utah (February 14, 2022) – Following a weekend where the Big Sky Conference Indoor Track & Field Record Book was re-written once again, the league office has announced the four winners of its Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week Awards.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week – Katie Camarena, Portland State
Breaking not only one, but two Big Sky Conference records while competing at the Husky Classic has earned Portland State’s Katie Camarena her fourth Big Sky Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for the 2021-22 season.
Camarena became the first woman in Big Sky Conference history to dip under a nine-minute 3K, as she crossed the line in 8:57.08. That puts her 11
th in the entire nation. Earlier this season Weber State’s Billie Hatch had also broken the Big Sky record, which is now owned by Camarena.
Staking her claim to another top all-time mark, Camarena ran a 4:32.27 in the women’s mile to break the Big Sky Conference record and sit No. 3 in the entire NCAA.
Setting a school record in both events as well, she is on pace to become the first Viking ever to qualify for the NCAA National Championships in more than one event, and only the third all-time to qualify at all.
Others Nominated: Camila Note (Montana State), LaTrouchka Dunk (Sacramento State), Melanie Loff (Northern Arizona), Emma Normand (Montana), Wendira Moss (Northern Colorado), Katja Pattis (Idaho), Katie Petsch (Eastern Washington)
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week – Abdihamid Nur, Northern Arizona
Running the fastest 3K in Big Sky Conference history has earned Northern Arizona’s Abdihamid Nur his third Big Sky Men’s Track Athlete of the Week title of the season.
Run crossed the finish line at the Husky Classic in 7:40.66, which was not only the fastest time in league history, but also the third-fastest time in the history of the NCAA.
Nur now sits on top of the national rankings for the event. Additionally, it was a Dempsey Indoor facility record at the University of Washington.
Others Nominated: Duncan Hamilton (Montana State), Jabari Reynolds (Sacramento State), Jordan MacIntosh (Portland State), Kodee Vining (Idaho State), Joe Gauthier (Eastern Washington), Tim Stevens (Idaho), Tracen Warnick (Weber State)
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week – Lucy Corbett, Montana State
Matching both the Big Sky Conference record and the second-best mark in the NCAA this season, Montana State’s Lucy Corbett is the league’s Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row and third time this season.
Corbett’s clearance of 1.88mn (6’ 2”) tied the Big Sky record held by Amber Welty who set the mark as a member of the Idaho State squad in 1988.
She was competing for the Bobcats as part of their Big Sky Preview, showing fans what they can expect late next week in Bozeman.
Others Nominated: Morgan Fossen (Eastern Washington), Shantel Nnaji (Sacramento State), Ashley VanVleet-Sturgis (Idaho State), Janna Figueroa (Northern Arizona), Hannah Ringel (Idaho)
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week – Qwazon Al-Khaliq, Northern Colorado
With the sixth-best mark in Big Sky Conference history, and the 15
th ranked mark in the NCAA this season, Northern Colorado’s Qwazon Al-Kahliq has been named Men’s Field Athelte of the Week.
His mark of 16.03m (52’ 7.25”) at the Texas Tech Shootout shot him to the top of the Big Sky leaderboard and into contention for a spot at the NCAA National Championships.
He is the first Bear this season to earn a weekly indoor track and field award.
Others Nominated: Colby Wilson (Montana State), Evan Stork (Sacramento State), Jordan Gloden (Portland State), William Beaudry (Northern Arizona), Michael Shulikov (Idaho State), Zach Klobutcher (Eastern Washington), Grady Leonard (Idaho)
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Previous Winners
December 6, 2021
W. Track - Katie Camarena (PSU)
M. Track - Abdihamid Nur (NAU)
W. Field - Lucy Corbett (MSU)
M. Field - Colby Wilson (MSU)
January 17, 2022
W. Track - Katie Camarena (PSU)
M. Track - Duncan Hamilton (MSU)
W. Field - Carly Watts (NAU
M. Field - Colby Wilson (MSU)
January 24, 2022
W. Track - Alyssa Colbert (NAU)
M. Track - Nico Young (NAU)
W. Field - Elizabeth White (SUU)
M. Field - Grady Leonard (UI)
January 31, 2022
W. Track - Katie Camarena (PSU)
M. Track - Abdihamid Nur (NAU)
W. Field - Destinee Rose-Haas (ISU)
M. Field - Grady Leonard (UI)
February 7, 2022
W. Track - Melanie Loff (NAU)
M. Track - Ryan Raff (NAU)
W. Field - Lucy Corbett (MSU)
M. Field - Grady Leonard (UI)