BURTON NAMED BIG WEST AND USU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Thrower Kelli Burton, a sophomore on the Utah State track and field team, was named the Big West Conference Female Field Athlete of the Week as well as the Utah State Athlete of the Week for the period ending May 9, it was announced on Monday.
The conference honor marked the second straight week an Aggie received that award as thrower Josh Sides won the men’s honor last week. The USU honor is her second such award in the last three weeks.
Burton, who is from Kaysville, Utah, set a school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 193-02 at the USU-hosted WIlson Motor Qualifier last Thursday. Buron also won the discus (167-01) and the shot put (51-01.50) in the meet.
It marked the third school record she has set in her brief career. Last season she established new marks in the indoor shot put and outdoor shot put. She finished 24th in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the shot put as well.
The USU track and field team will head to Irvine, Calif. for the Big West Conference Championships, Wednesday through Saturday this week.Nominees From Other Sports For The USU Athlete of the Week Honor Included:
Softball – Leslie Higley… The pitcher helped USU snap its 17-game losing streak and start its own two-game winning streak as she pitched back-to-back complete game victories against UC Riverside over the weekend. Higley has been the winning pitcher in seven of USU’s nine victories this season and owns a team-best 4.33 ERA.
Men’s Track – Ryan Bruhn… Won the hammer throw with a season-best throw of 209-03 at the USU-hosted Wilson Motor Qualifier. He also placed fourth in the javelin (165-05) and discus (156-01).
Previous WinnersSept. 1 – Zuzana Cernianska, VolleyballSept. 8 – Chris Cooley, FootballSept. 15 – Ally Clegg, SoccerSept. 22 – Erin Cartwright-Davis, VolleyballSept. 29 – Nicole Feuz, SoccerOct. 6 – Amber Tracy, SoccerOct. 13 – Charlsie Harris, SoccerOct. 20 – Erin Cartwright-Davis, VolleyballOct. 27 – Travis Cox, FootballNov. 3 – Travis Cox, FootballNov. 10 – Chris Cooley, FootballNov. 17 – Mike Nielson, Cross CountryNov. 24 – Zuzana Cernianska, VolleyballDec. 1 – Mark Brown, BasketballDec. 8 – Ali Aird, Women’s BasketballDec. 15 – Cardell Butler, BasketballDec. 22 – Cardell Butler, BasketballDec. 29 – No AwardJan. 5 – Cardell Butler, BasketballJan. 12 – Christina Zdenek, Women’s BasketballJan. 19 – Ali Aird, Women’s BasketballJan. 26 – Nate Harris, BasketballFeb. 2 – Nate Harris, BasketballFeb. 9 – Alex Martin, GymnasticsFeb. 16 – Jonah Nelson, TennisFeb. 23 – Cardell Butler, BasketballMar. 1 – Ali Aird, Women’s BasketballMar. 8 – Liesel Kohler, GymnasticsMar. 15 – Leslie Higley, SoftballMar. 22 – Tiffany Strickland, Women’s TrackMar. 29 – Haven Vance, SoftballApril 5 – Jill Bruins, SoftballApril 12 – Tiffany Strickland, Women’s TrackApril 19 – Cody Huot, GolfApril 26 – Kelli Burton, Women’s TrackMay 3 – Katie Thatcher, Women’s TrackMay 10 – Kelli Burton, Women’s Track