NEW ORLEANS, La. (blugolds.com) – National Athletes of the Week for April 20 were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Megan Wallace (Sr. - Burlington, WI) and Marcus Weaver (So. - Lewiston, MN/Lewiston-Altura) were named as NCAA Division III Athletes of the Week.
Wallace went for 5471 points at the Ashton-Esten Invitational, topping the former all-time best held by Kim Oden of Nebraska Wesleyan since 1992 by just four points.
After opening the 100H at 14.46, Wallace started rolling. Wallace cleared 1.63m (5-4¼) in the high jump, threw the shot 13.39m (43-11¼) and closed Day 1 with a 25.77 effort in the 200. On Day 2, Wallace hit 5.77m (18-11¼) in the long jump to take over the NCAA DIII lead in that event, 39.55m (129-9) in the javelin and wrapped it all up with a 2:23.49 clocking in the 800 to cement her spot in NCAA DIII history.
This is the third year in a row that a female athlete from UW-Eau Claire has been named National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Wallace joins former standout Erica Oawster, who took home national honors once in 2018 and then again in 2019.
Competing at the Ashton-Esten Invitational, Weaver totaled 7273 points to become the eighth-best performer in NCAA Division III history.
During the multi, Weaver launched the javelin 63.21m (207-4) to move up to No. 2 on the NCAA DIII seasonal chart in that event as well. He also established seven other PRs throughout the competition.
Weaver is only the second man in program history to be named National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. He joins two-time honoree David Kornack from 2019.
