Walker named NCAA National Athlete of the Week

NEW ORLEANS – The accolades keep coming for Shaquille Walker who was named the NCAA Division I men’s National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Walker became the first NCAA athlete since 2012 to crack 1:45.00 in the 800 meters over the weekend at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona. His 1:44.99 performance helped him coast to a first place finish by nearly two seconds.

He is one of seven athletes in NCAA history to break the 1:45.00 plateau. Only one man in collegiate history has run a faster time in the month of April – South Carolina’s Otukile Lekota ran the event in 1:44.76 in April 2001.

The Richmond Hill, Georgia, native already owned the BYU school record in the 800 meters for both indoor and outdoor seasons prior to the Sun Angel Classic. He improved on his previous outdoor-best time by nearly a second.

You can view the entire USTFCCCA release here.

See his record-breaking race below.