Brett Neelly Named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week

MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State track and field senior Brett Neelly was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men's National Athlete of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday, after Neelly set a new school record and NCAA lead in the shot put by throwing 20.15m/66-01.5 at the K-State Winter Invitational on Saturday.

Neelly, a native of Gallatin, Tennessee becomes the first ever Wildcat men's student-athlete to win the award during the indoor season after breaking a 37-year old school record set by Ray Bradley in 1981. In addition, Neelly's throw ranks second in the world this year and first in the NCAA, becoming the first Wildcat to break 20 meters in the shot put.

"Getting recognized for Athlete of the Week is one of the highest honors, because it's not just his event it's all of track and field," Assistant Coach Nathan Ott said of Neelly's honor. "Being recognized for that is huge, granted it's still early in the season, but that accolade is irreplaceable."

Neelly's record-breaking throw came on his third attempt on Saturday, as Neelly went on to win the event behind a new meet record. Prior to Saturday, Neelly sat in fourth on the school's all-time list with a throw of 19.19m/2-11.50 recorded at the Texas Tech Shootout last season.

"That's a big throw. I think it's safe to say that that's a throw that will get him to the National meet comfortably," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto said on Saturday.

Qualification to the NCAA Indoor Championship held on March 8-9 in Birmingham, Alabama is based on the descending-order list for the season with the top 16 declared student-athletes being accepted for competition. Neelly's mark of 20.15m/66-01.5 set on Saturday would have ranked No. 6 last season and currently places him as top in the NCAA this season.

Neelly's USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week honor is the first for a male K-State athlete. Akela Jones is the only other Wildcat to earn USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week honors during the indoor season, in which she was a three-time honoree in 2016.

The Wildcats will continue the indoor season on January 12, as they host the Wildcat Invitational at Ahearn Field House in Manhattan, Kan.

For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

Kansas State University Athletics

Brett Neelly Named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week

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Brett Neelly

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