STANFORD, Calif. – For the second time this season, Stanford senior
Mackenzie Little earned national and conference Athlete of the Week honors in track and field.
Little had the longest javelin throw by a collegian this year, winning the Big Meet dual against California in a meet record 195-1 (59.47 meters). The throw earned her National Division I Women's Athlete of the Week recognition by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. She also was named Women's Field Athlete of the Week by the Pac-12.
She received both honors on March 19 after her season-opening performance at Sacramento State's Hornet Invitational, establishing the national lead at 194-3 (59.20m).
Little broke her own year-old meet record of 192-4 (58.63m) while also earning her fourth Big Meet victory and extended Stanford's streak of Big Meet victories in the event to 17. Her five points helped the Stanford women to their fifth consecutive victory over the Golden Bears, 86-74.
Little took the lead on her first throw, of 187-11 (57.28m) and passed on every other throw. She took three altogether, with her longest coming on her third attempt. She finished with 181-2 (55.22m).
It was her fourth consecutive meet – dating back to her NCAA-championship effort of 198-0 (60.35m) from last June -- that she has exceeded 190-0. No other collegian has done it even once in that span.
Little is the No. 5 women's javelin performer in collegiate history and her best throws are No. 10 and No. 20 all-time – the latter from Saturday's Big Meet.
Little wasn't done at the Big Meet. For the first time as a collegian, she competed in the shot put, in an effort to earn an extra point for the team.
Little is among 10 women on the watch list for The Bowerman, collegiate track and field's highest honor.
