BG & Ball State Garner First Track & Field Athlete of the Week Honors
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Peyton Stewart, Ball State, 60m
Senior – Indianapolis, Indiana/Lawrence North
The runner-up in the 60m at last season’s MAC Indoor Championships at BGSU’s Perry Field House, senior Peyton Stewart’s made her 2018-19 indoor debut at the same track a memorable one by winning the 60m with a time of 7.52. Not only is it her fastest 60m time to open a season, it also ties as the third-fastest 60m run of her four-year career. Her only faster runs came in the prelims (7.50) and the finals (7.48) of last season’s MAC Indoor Championships. With her time of 7.52 Saturday, Stewart was the only MAC student-athlete to post a league automatic qualifying time on the track opening weekend. Her effort not only ranks first in the league, it also ranks fifth among all NCAA Division I runners.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Aliyah Gustafson, Bowling Green, SP/WT
R-Senior – Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City
Aliyah Gustafson swept the throws events at the BG Opener, winning both the shot put and weight throw with Mid-American Conference automatic qualifying distances. She ranks first in the MAC in both events and is currently second in the country in the shot put, an event in which she is a three-time All-American and three-time MAC champion. She also ranks ninth nationally in the weight throw.
Other Nominees:
Olivia Bechtel, Miami, 300m
Junior – Bay Village, Ohio/Bay
Bechtel set a personal record at Saturday's Bowling Green Opener, winning the 300-meter with a time of 39.53. She was also part of a Miami team that took second in the 4 x 400.
Regan Lewis, Ball State, High Jump
Senior – Greenfield, Indiana/Greenfield Central
The three-time defending MAC High Jump Champion (Indoor: 2018 / Outdoor: 2017, 2018), Regan Lewis opened her senior season on a strong note, winning the event at the Bowling Green Opener by clearing 1.75m (5-8.75) on her opening leap. In fact, she was the only competitor to clear better than 1.59m (5-2.5) at the meet, with her first jump actually coming at 1.64m. Lewis' effort was the only MAC Automatic Qualifying Mark to be posted in the high jump opening weekend and currently ranks first in the league and second among all NCAA Division I high jumpers.
