GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following Week Seven of the 2018-19 indoor track and field season. Grand Valley State's Distance Medley Relay team of Rachael Walters, Heather Johnson, Abby Crouch and Allie Ludge were the women's track athletes of the week, and GVSU's Elli Kimes was named women's field athlete of the week for the second straight week. Ashland swept the men's honors as Travor Bassitt was named track athlete of the week and Brent Fairbanks received field honors.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Distance Medley Relay – Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State's distance medley relay of senior Rachael Walters (Belding, Mich.), senior Heather Johnson (Rochester Hills, Mich.), junior Abby Crouch (Noblesville, Ind.) and junior Allie Ludge (Grand Rapids, Mich.) clocked an 11:27.31 Saturday at the GVSU Big Meet to pick up a first-place finish and record the nation's fastest time in the event.
Walters Johnson Crouch Ludge
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Elli Kimes – Grand Valley State
GVSU sophomore Elli Kimes (Cashmere, Wash.) continued her dominance in the women's pole vault by clearing 4.07 meters (13-4 ¼) Friday at the GVSU Big Meet. She finished second to an unattached competitor in the event, and ranks first in the GLIAC and second in the NCAA Division II.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Trevor Bassitt – Ashland
Ashland sophomore Trevor Bassitt (Lima, Ohio) won the men's 60-meter hurdles in a provisional qualifying time of :07.94 and the men's 200-meter dash in an automatic qualifying time of :21.20 Friday at the GVSU Big Meet. He is ranked first in the GLIAC and second in NCAA Division II in both events.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Brent Fairbanks – Ashland
Ashland sophomore Brent Fairbanks (Austintown, Ohio) won the men's weight throw with an automatic qualifying distance of 22.27 meters (73-0 ¾) at the GVSU Big Meet on Friday. He leads the GLIAC and nation in the event, and has moved into a tie for the fifth-best DII men's weight throw of all time.
