BAY CITY, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following the second weekend of the 2017 outdoor track and field season. In women's competition, Hillsdale senior Molly Oren earned GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week honors, while Findlay senior Erica King captured GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week accolades. On the men's side, Grand Valley State sophomore Zach Panning earned GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week distinction, while Tiffin senior Coy Blair captured GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week recognition.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Molly Oren, Hillsdale
Charger senior Molly Oren got off to a terrific start to the 2017 outdoor track season, representing Hillsdale at the Stanford Invitational in California. She put together an NCAA auto-qualifying time of 10:20.3 in the 3000 meter steeplechase, finishing well ahead of four runners from Power 5 conferences. That time currently ranks No. 1 in the GLIAC and No. 3 in the NCAA Division II. Over the past two years, Oren has finished second and third in the steeplechase at the NCAA Division II championships.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Erica King, Findlay
Senior Erica King placed first in the women's hammer throw at the Miami Duals in Oxford, Ohio and booked her trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships with an automatic qualifying throw of 61.34m. This mark currently ranks her second in the nation.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Zach Panning, Grand Valley State
Laker sophomore Zach Panning was able to put up the second best time in all of Division II while competing at the Stanford Invitational over the weekend. Panning competed in a section comprised entirely of Division I athletes and placed ninth out of 30 spots with a time of 29:05.65. It was the first 10k race he has competed in during the outdoor season.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Coy Blair, Tiffin
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