GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following Week 5 of the 2018-19 outdoor track and field season. Ashland throwers Mackenzie Leigh and Jake Glass swept the field athlete of the week honors. Grand Valley State's Rachael Walters was named women's track athlete of the week, and GVSU's Zach Panning was named men's track athlete of the week.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Rachael Walters – Grand Valley State
Senior Rachael Walters (Belding, Mich.) broke her own school record while placing third in the women's 800-meter run at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. She clocked an automatic qualifying time of 2:04.15 in a race led by runners from Adidas and UNLV. Walters was 97th in the invitational 1,500-meter run in 4:31.10. She ranks first nationally in the 800 and 23rd in the 1,500.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Mackenzie Leigh – Ashland
Senior Mackenzie Leigh (Buckhannon, W.V.) shot past a milestone mark in the women's hammer throw Friday during a rainy opening day at the Ashland Alumni Open. She won the elite category with a personal record 60.74-meter throw. She ranks first in the GLIAC and second nationally in the event.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Zach Panning – Grand Valley State
Senior Zach Panning (Fort Wayne, Ind.), competing at the Bryan Clay Invitational Thursday in Azusa, Calif., matched the ninth best 5,000-meter run performance in DII history with a school record and automatic qualifying time of 13:37.94. He placed ninth in the event. Panning is ranked first nationally among Division II athletes in the 5K.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Jake Glass – Ashland
Junior Jake Glass (Louisville, Ohio) placed fourth in the men's shot put elite event with an improved provisional mark of 17.46 meters (57-3 ½) during Day 2 of the Ashland Alumni Open held Saturday at the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex. Glass is ranked first in the GLIAC and 17th nationally in the shot put.
