Pac-12 announces outdoor track & field athletes of the week

The Pac-12 Conference outdoor track and field athlete of the week honors for the week of April 8-14:

Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Tyler Janes, UCLA
Sophomore
Riverside, Calif. 

The Bruin sophomore posted a personal-best in the 1,500-meter run to win the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational with a time of 3:46.92. Janes is a History major.

ALSO NOMINATED: No other nominations.

Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Meleni Rodney, UCLA 
Senior
Grenada, Calif.

Rodney made the most of her senior day meet at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational, posting a winning lifetime-best of 53.01 seconds in the 400 meters. The Sociology major was 1.36 seconds faster than the second-place finisher, and her time was the fastest by a Bruin this season by over two seconds.

ALSO NOMINATED: No other nominations.

Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Jordan Geist, Arizona
Sophomore
Saxonburg, Pa.

Geist captured the shot title in a field of 14 at the Triton Invitational with a throw of 21.59 meters (70-10). He set an Arizona record with his personal-best throw that is currently the No. 1 mark in the NCAA and No. 3 in the world. He capped back-to-back weekly field honors with a third-place throw in the discus with a mark of 55.54 meters (182-3). The sophomore majoring in business has now won five Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Week honors.

ALSO NOMINATED: Don Ogundeji, UCLA.

Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Alyssa Wilson, UCLA
Sophomore
Jackson, N.J.

Wilson set a Drake Stadium record in the hammer, one of three event victories for the sophomore, at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational. Wilson’s mark of 70.63m (231-9) not only broke her own school record, but also currently ranks second in the country. She is only one of two athletes in the country to reach the 70-foot threshold. The Psychology major’s  top mark broke Jessica Crosby’s previous record of 231 feet and five inches, set in 2009. Wilson also finished first in the discus (56.39m; 185-0) and shot put (17.10m; 56-1.25).

ALSO NOMINATED: Alyssa Wilson, ARIZONA STATE; Karlee Freeman, USC; Kolbi Sims, UTAH.

Pac-12 in the USTFCCCA National Rankings (April 15)

Men's Top 25: #7 Oregon, #14 Arizona, #15 Stanford, #20 UCLA

The Pac-12 maintained four teams in the Week 3 men's poll, with UCLA jumping up five spots to check in at No. 20 this week.

Women's Top 25: #1 USC, #5 Oregon, #13 Stanford, #14 Colorado, #17 Washington, #23 UCLA

Arizona State nearly became the seventh Pac-12 program in the women's top 25 with its strong performances at the Triton and Texas A&M Invitationals. The Sun Devils checked in at No. 26 this week. Stanford, Colorado and Washington each moved up one spot in the rankings. 

Pac-12 USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week

Mackenzie Little, STANFORD - March 19
Beatrice Llano, ARIZONA STATE - March 26
Olivia Gruver, WASHINGTON - April 2
Mackenzie Little, STANFORD; Jordan Geist, ARIZONA - April 9

Pac-12 on The Bowerman Watch List

Men's Post-Indoor: Grant Fisher, STANFORD.

Women's Post-Indoor: Jessica Hull, OREGON; Mackenzie Little, STANFORD; Chanel Brissett, USC; Kaelin Roberts, USC; Olivia Gruver, WASHINGTON.

2019 Pac-12 Track & Field Athletes of the Week