Track Program Picks Athletes of Week
Mar 29, 2002 | Track & Field
March 29, 2002
Manhattan, Kan. - Senior Austra Skujyte led the Kansas State Track & Field Athlete of the Week honorees for performances March 23 at the Jim Click Shootout, the track office announced Wednesday.
Skujyte was the Female Field Athlete of the Week after hitting NCAA qualifying marks in three events. She won all three, the shot put (automatic mark of 55-10.50), the discus (provisional mark of 168-4) and javelin (provisional mark of 167-5). Her shot put ranked second all-time at Kansas State.
"Austra had amazing performances on Saturday," said head coach Cliff Rovelto. "She threw three personal bests in the shot put, javelin and discus. This was arguably the finest day in terms of number of qualifying performances in collegiate history. Austra also ran strong relay legs on the 4x100 and 4x400 teams."
Amy Mortimer was the Women's Track Athlete of the Week by virtue of her victory in the 1,500-meter run. The Wildcat junior finished in 4:25.50, just missing a provisional mark.
"Amy ran a very aggressive 1,500 and showed her fitness with a decent 800 (2:12.11) effort shortly after," said assistant coach Randy Cole. "Under calmer conditions, her marks will improve. She's eager for a great outdoor campaign."
C.J. Jamison earned a pair of victories in the horizontal jumps last weekend. He went 23-10.25 to win the long jump and 51-3 to capture the triple jump and was the Wildcats' Male Field Athlete of the Week.
"C.J. jumped well this weekend in his first outdoor competition," said Rovelto. "His jump of 51-3 in the triple jump was a personal record. He also had a strong performance in the long jump. C.J. is developing into a very fine collegiate jumper."
Big 12 sprint champion Terence Newman broke his own school record in the 100 meters and earned Male Track Athlete of the Week honors. Newman went 10.20 to win the 100 and hit a provisional-qualifying mark.
"Terence's time was a personal and school record," said Rovelto. "That time provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA Championshps and will probably hold up in terms of getting him into the competition. He also ran a fine 400-meter leg on the 4x400 relay, his first 400 since high school. He has unquestionably established himself as one of the finest sprinters in collegiate track."
The Wildcats will send a small distance crew to the Stanford Invitational and most of the team to the UTEP Springtime Invitational this weekend.
