Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Brian Masai, Akron, Freshman
David Hemery Valentine Invitational, 5,000M/34th, 13:46.76, 1st/62nd
Akron freshman Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya) registered a school-record time of 13:46.76 in the men's 5,000 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University on Saturday, Feb. 11. Running the men's 5,000 meters for the first time as a collegian, Masai posted a career-best time of 13:46.76. His effort stands as the second-fastest indoor 5K time in the Mid-American Conference since 2013.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Alexandre Malanda, Kent St, Sophomore
SPIRE Collegiate Indoor Games, Triple Jump/1st, 15.62m, 1st/34th
Alexandre Malanda posted a season-best mark of 15.62m (51’-3”) to win the triple jump at the SPIRE Collegiate Indoor Games. Malanda leaped at least 15.02m on all five measured attempts and sits at No. 36 on the national performance list.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Makayla Perez, Western Michigan , Grad Student
Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational, 5K/25th Place, 16:03.59, 2nd Best Time in the MAC this Season/47th in the NCAA
Makayla Perez broke the program record by 20 seconds. She owned the previous program best time, which was 16:23.94
Women’ Field Athlete of the Week
Zaresha Neal, BG, Senior,
GVSU Big Meet, Shot Put: 1st, 56-4.75 (17.19m), MAC: 1st / NCAA: 14th
Zaresha Neal won the shot put at Friday's GVSU Big Meet, throwing a mark of 56-4.75 (17.19m). This matches her PR and is first in the MAC by nearly six feet. It currently ranks fourth in the Great Lakes Region, 14th in the NCAA, and is tied for fourth in BGSU history. With this throw, Neal has three of the top 10 and eight of the top 20 marks in school history. She has placed first or second in the shot put at each meet this season, increasing her mark each time.
