Women’s Track Athlete of the Week: Alyssa Zack, Embry-Riddle

Zack won three events with three personal-best times and an NCAA provisional time at the Embry-Riddle Invitational over the weekend. The freshman from Fogelsville, Pa., ran the fastest 1500 in the PBC so far this season in an NCAA-provisional time of 4:31.94. That is 13 seconds than any other 1500 run in the PBC this year and the 21st-fastest in NCAA Division II this season. She then won the 5000 in 18:20.44, fifth-fastest in the PBC this year and won the 800 in 2:19.64, fourth-fastest in the league.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week: Journey Gurley, North Georgia

Gurley became the first PBC athlete to hit an NCAA automatic qualifying mark as she cleared the pole vault at the Catamount Classic with a height of 4.20m. That improves upon the PBC records she already set this season and is a new personal best for the freshman from Danielsville, Ga. Gurley won the event against all Division I opponents with a margin of 0.70m to her nearest competitor. After clearing the bar at 4.10 and 4.15 – both NCAA automatic heights – she hit her first attempt at 4.20. Only five athletes in Division II have set NCAA automatic qualifying heights in the pole vault and hers is the third-highest in the nation to date. She has improved upon the old PBC record height by nearly a half-meter.

For a complete list of women’s track & field weekly award winners, please click here.