IRVINE, Calif. – This week’s PacWest Men’s Track & Field Athletes of the Week are
Ryan Phillips (Fresno Pacific),
Valentin Pepiot (Academy of Art),
Shujaa Benson (Azusa Pacific) and
Donte McDaniel (Fresno Pacific). The awards are based on competition from March 7-20.
CO-TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ryan Phillips (Fresno Pacific)
Jr., Clovis, Calif./Clovis
Phillips continued to excel in the 1500m at the Occidental Distance Carnival, nearly breaking a school records that has stood for 24 years. He placed fourth overall, second among collegiate competitors, in the event with a time of 3:52.28. He was less than a second off the FPU record time that Jason Lindholm set in 1992. He was the top collegiate finisher in the 1500 the previous week at the Kim Duyst Invitational with a time of 3:58.59.
CO-TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Valentin Pepiot (Academy of Art)
Sr., Besançon, France
Pepiot delivered two school records and two NCAA Nationals provisional qualifying times at the Sacramento State Hornet Invitational, his outdoor season debut. He finished second in a 75-participant field (behind only Saint Mary's) in the 1500m with a time of 3:47.82. He finished fourth in a 64-participant field in the 800m with a time of 1:51.23. His times rank first in NCAA DII in the 1500m and fourth in the country in the 800m.
CO-FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Shujaa Benson (Azusa Pacific)
Sr., Copenhagen, Denmark/Loyola Academy
Benson posted an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the long jump at the Ben Brown Invitational. His first jump of the competition reached 7.27m, and was the eighth-best in NCAA DII this season. He also ran a 14.06 in the 110m hurdles, the second-fastest time in the division this year.
CO-FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Donte McDaniel (Fresno Pacific)
Jr., Selma, Calif./Selma
McDaniel won the triple jump at consecutive events. His jump of 15.54m at the Sacramento State Hornet Invitational was a personal best and the top mark in NCAA DII this year. The week prior, he jumped 15.33m to win the event at the Ben Brown Invitational.