NEW ORLEANS – Spring has sprung and the outdoor season is alive and kicking.
We're a few weeks removed from the respective indoor championships. That means we're a few weeks closer to the respective outdoor championships.
Let's not jump ahead too far, especially because the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is pleased to announce the first National Athletes of the Week for the 2017 outdoor season.
- NCAA Division I Men – Matti Mortimore, North Dakota State
- NCAA Division I Women – Maggie Ewen, Arizona State
- NCAA Division II Men – Josh Syrotchen, Harding
- NCAA Division II Women – Kamie Norton, Angelo State
- NCAA Division III Men – Jake Mihelich, Linfield
- NCAA Division III Women – Vaiva Palunas, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
- NJCAA Division I Men – Samuel Shoultz, Pima (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division I Women – Portious Warren, Central Arizona
- NJCAA Division III Men – Elijah Richardson, Howard (Md.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Women – Glory Ebinama, Howard (Md.) CC
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Josh Syrotchen, Harding
Senior | Throws
Spokane, Washington
Josh Syrotchen is picking up right where he left off a year ago.
After finishing 2nd at the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the senior has already punched his ticket to this year's version, where he will look to win his first national title. The native of Spokane, Washington, posted a discus throw of 59.34m (194-8) to claim 1st place at the 2017 Rhodes Invitational this past weekend, clearing the NCAA Division II Automatic Qualifying mark in his first meet of the season while ranking first during this young Division II season.
As a matter of fact, Syrotchen's discus mark was the furthest on the week by any athlete across all collegiate levels, besting Iowa's Renu Tuufuli's by a foot. Syrotchen also had the 3rd-best discus mark on the week with a throw of 57.10m (187-4).
Syrotchen wasn't done on the weekend with his discus performance. He also placed 5th at the Rhodes Invitational with a personal-best 15.74m (51-7¾) in the shot put, a mark that currently sits 13th in Division II. He also placed 4th at the Rhodes Invitational in the weight throw, recording a toss of 46.61m (152-11).
