FARMINGTON, Utah (February 7, 2022) – Another weekend of indoor track and field has come and gone in the Big Sky Conference, bringing with it several strong individual performances across the league worthy of Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week honors.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week – Ryan Raff, Northern Arizona
Running the 14
th best men’s 5K in the NCAA this season has earned Northern Arizona’s Ryan Raff Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors.
At the Ron Mann Classic, Raff ran an altitude converted 13:34.77 to move him into fifth in the Big Sky this season. Additionally, it’s the best time in the nation this year that wasn’t ran at the BU Season Opener back in December as 15 of the 16 best times in the NCAA this season came from that one event.
Others Nominated: Blaize Holland (Sacramento State), Duncan Hamilton (Montana State), Jaydon Green (Montana), Joe Gauthier (Eastern Washington), Collin Dylla (Idaho State), DMR Team (Idaho), Luke Ramirez (Portland State)
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week – Melanie Loff, Northern Arizona
Running the best women’s 800-meter in the Big Sky this season has earned NAU’s Melanie Loff Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honors.
Loff clocked a 2:08.08 after altitude adjustments at the Ron Mann Classic, edging out Southern Utah’s Alison Pray for the top spot.
Others Nominated: Abi Swain (Portland State), Cagnei Duncan (Sacramento State), Elena Carter (Montana State), Wendira Moss (Northern Colorado), Katie Petsch (Eastern Washington), Molly Olsen (Idaho State), Neil Baker (Idaho)
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week – Grady Leonard, Idaho
With a weight throw of 21.47 to top the Big Sky charts and rank him 16
th nationally, Idaho’s Grady Leonard is the league’s Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.
Leonard in nationally ranked in both the weight throw and the shot put. Hist 21.47 at the WSU Invitational this past weekend also puts him second in Idaho history.
Others Nominated: Evan Stork (Sacramento State), Colby Wilson (Montana State), Jake Arnold (Northern Arizona), Zach Klobutcher (Eastern Washington), Lachlan Burns (Weber State), Zack Ramos (Idaho State)
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week – Lucy Corbett, Montana State
Clearing the highest mark in the Big Sky in the women’s high jump so far this season, Montana State’s Lucy Corbett is the league’s Women’s Field Athlete of the Week.
Corbett’s 1.79 at the WSU Invitational also puts her 26
th nationally and improved upon her own school record.
Others Nominated: Shantel Nnaji (Sacramento State), Carly Watts (Northern Arizona), Maggie Nelson (Eastern Washington), Kylee Dimick (Idaho State), Hannah Ringel (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)