GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following the first weekend of the 2019-20 indoor track and field season. Grand Valley State women captured both of the awards with Allie Ludge claiming track athlete of the week, while teammate Bobbie Goodwin was named field athlete of the week. For the men, Northwood's Mason Phillips garnered track athlete of the week while Ashland's Brett Fairbanks received field athlete of the week honors.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Allie Ludge, Grand Valley St.
Allie Ludge started the year out on a strong foot at the GVSU Holiday Open as she broke the women's school 3000m indoor record by more than four seconds with a finish of 9:18.04, good for an automatic national qualification. The Laker senior placed 5th in the 3000m race at the 2019 NCAA DII Indoor National Championships and 3rd in the mile.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Bobbie Goodwin, Grand Valley St.
Reigning indoor National Champion Bobbie Goodwin will look to defend her weight throw title at the 2020 NCAA DII Indoor Nationals as threw for an automatic qualifying launch of 20.19m, good for 2nd place at the Holiday Open. The GVSU senior won last year’s national competition with a PR of 20.75m.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Mason Phillips, Northwood
Junior Mason Phillips started the season with a pair of impressive individual performances at the SVSU Holiday Open. He broke his own school record in winning the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.7. Phillips also earned the victory in the 200 with a time of 21.15. Both of those time are NCAA automatic qualifiers and currently rank No. 1 nationally in Division II.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Brett Fairbanks, Ashland
For his efforts on Saturday (Dec. 7) at the Findlay Oiler Opener, Ashland University junior Brent Fairbanks has been named the 2019-20 Week 1 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. Fairbanks’ top weight throw on Saturday was 21.41 meters/70-feet-3, the best mark so far in NCAA Division II this season, as well as an automatic-qualifying mark for the 2020 Division II Championships, March 13-14 in Birmingham, Ala. This is Fairbanks’ fourth all-time GLIAC Men’s Field weekly award.
