PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s final weekly outdoor track and field honors for the 2019 season. The conference’s 2019 Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place in Wichita, Kan., with the three-day meet beginning Friday, May 10.
MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Emmanuel Rotich * Sr. * Tulane * Sotik, Republic of Kenya
Rotich ran the fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase in the conference and the eighth-fastest in the nation at Stanford’s Payton Jordan Invitational last Thursday to wrap up the regular season. The senior distance runner crossed the finish line in a season-best time of 8:41.05 for second place.
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Isaiah Evans * Sr. * Wichita State * Mulvane, Kan.
Evans registered a pair of second-place finishes at the Shocker Open last Friday. He was the top collegiate finisher in the hammer throw with a personal-best toss of 59.73 meters (195-11) to move to No. 2 on The American’s performance list this year. His throw ranks No. 53 in the NCAA West region. Evans also finished second place in the discus throw (49.99 meters), good for ranking top 10 in The American this season.
FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Annette Echikunwoke * R-Sr. * Cincinnati * Pickerington, Ohio
Echikunwoke earned her second American weekly honor of the year following a solid performance at the Billy Hayes Invitational last Friday. The All-America senior thrower was the top collegiate finisher in the hammer throw, recording three tosses that traveled over 63 meters. Her top throw of the day put her in second place on the podium with a NCAA top-20 distance of 63.26 meters. Her top throws ranked No. 2, 3 and 4 in the country last week. Echikunwoke had another top-five performance at the meet, recording a personal-record toss of 49.11 meters in the discus throw, which placed her sixth on The American’s performance list this season.