GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following Week 2 of the 2018-19 indoor track and field season. Ashland again claimed three honors as Myles Pringle was named men's track athlete of the week, Brent Fairbanks men's field athlete of the week and Natalie Helenthal women's field athlete of the week. Grand Valley State distance runner Allie Ludge was named women's track athlete of the week.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Allie Ludge – Grand Valley State
Allie Ludge, a junior, finished first in the women's 3,000-meter run at Friday's GVSU Holiday Open with a NCAA automatic qualifying time of 9:23.70. Her time leads the GLIAC and NCAA Division II.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Natalie Helenthal - Ashland
Senior Natalie Helenthal's season debut at Saturday's Findlay Oiler Opener resulted in a provisional and a win in the women's weight throw at 19.85 meters. Helenthal led an Eagle contingent, which swept the top six spots in the event. Her distance ranks first in the GLIAC and second in NCAA Division II.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Myles Pringle - Ashland
Myles Pringle, a senior, won both the men's 400-meter dash and men's high jump on Friday at the Youngstown State Icebreaker. He smashed facility records and automatically qualified for the 2019 indoor nationals in both events. Pringle crossed the 400 finish line in 46.14 seconds, and ended the high jump at a school-record 2.19 meters (7-2¼). According to the International Association of Athletics Federations web site (iaaf.org), Pringle now leads the world in the early 2018-19 indoor season in the men's 400 dash, and is third in the world in the men's high jump.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Brent Fairbanks - Ashland
Brent Fairbanks, a sophomore, won the weight throw at Friday's Findlay Oiler Opener with a top heave of 21.62 meters. His distance is a NCAA automatic qualifier and currently leads the GLIAC and NCAA Division II.
