PAC-10 CONFERENCE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Pac-10 Conference outdoor track and field athlete of the week honors for April 4-10, 2011:
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week: James Alaka, WASHINGTON (So., London, England)
Alaka accounted for three victories at the Pepsi Team Invitational on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. He won both the 100 (10.53) and 200 meter (21.18) events and then ran a leg on the victorious 4x100 meter relay team. The relay clocked a season-best 40.24 seconds.
Also Nominated: Mike Berry, ORE; Dominic Giovannoni, UCLA; 4x400 meter relay (Hughes, Mance, Walker, Wyatt), USC; Ramsey Hopkins, WSU
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week: Mike Morrison, CALIFORNIA (RS Sr., Chesapeake, Va.)
Morrison captured the decathlon title at the Texas Relays with the 7,921 points, the third-highest score in Cal history.
Morrison stood atop the standings after the first day of competition and never relinquished his lead over the final five events. He set or tied personal records in the 100 meters, 110 hurdles, high jump and javelin.
Also Nominated: Bozidar Antunovic, ARIZ; Jordan Stray, ORE; Jonathan Clark, UCLA; Scott Roth, WASH
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week: English Gardner, OREGON (Fr., Voorhees, N.J.)
Gardner’s three-victory performance helped No. 3 Oregon capture the Pepsi Team Invitational. She won the 100 (11.62) and 200 meter (24.06) events and joined her teammates to win the 4x100 meter relay (44.59). The 100 meter and 4x100 meter relay times both rank fifth in school history. Her 200 meter time was a personal best.
Also Nominiated: Nia Ali, USC; Katie Flood, WASH
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week: Julie Labonte, ARIZONA (So., Sainte-Justine, Quebec)
Labonte improved on her national-leading mark in the women’s shot put with a runner-up finish at the Texas Relays.
Labonte set a new personal best with a throw of 17.71 meters (58-1 1/4). She finished second to Olympian Michelle Carter, but was the top collegiate finisher by over two feet. Labonte ranks second in Canadian national history and within the top-10 internationally this outdoor season.
Also Nominated: Chioma Amaechi, CAL; Jamesha Youngblood, ORE; Tori Anthony, UCLA; Amanda Peterson, WASH;
Marissa Tschida, WSU
2011 Pac-10 Track and Field Athletes of the Week
Men’s Track: Apr. 11 - James Alaka, So., WASH
Men’s Field: Apr. 11 - Mike Morrison, RS Sr., CAL
Women’s Track: Apr. 11 - English Gardner, Fr., ORE
Women’s Field: Apr. 11 - Julie Labonte, So., ARIZ

Courtesy Pac-10