McClurkin Earns Third Athlete of the Week Honors

PROVO -- BYU senior Mindy McClurkin has been recognized as a Mountain West Conference indoor track and field athlete of the week following her outstanding performance at the New Balance Invitational in New York City.

This marks the third time this season McClurkin has earned this honor, and the fourth time a BYU women’s track and field athlete has been recognized this season.

“Its always an honor to be named a MWC athlete of the week, and its crazy that its my third time this season,” McClurkin said. “I was really excited about my performance this weekend, and it was really one of the best meets I have been a part of at BYU.”

McClurkin competed in four events at the Invitational, winning two and placing near the top in the others. In the long jump, she automatically qualified for nationals with a season-best leap of 6.44-meters to win the event.

Her other first place finish came in the 4x200-meter relay, in which she participated as the anchor leg and overcame a 15-meter lead held by Tennessee when she got the baton, leading BYU to a close win in 1:38.64.

“Everything just came together at this meet,” McClurkin said. “All the training and hard work is really paying off at this point. I just want to keep this going through indoor nationals, so I can finish this part of the season with a bang.”

In McClurkin’s two individual sprint events over the weekend, she finished third in the 200-meters in 23.80, the second fastest time in the MWC, trailing only her own 23.77 time she recorded at New Mexico. In the 60-meters, she finished with a personal record of 7.46, breaking the BYU record she set earlier this season in the race.

The No. 2 ranked women’s team will continue their season this weekend, splitting the squad in two and sending part to Colorado Springs for the Air Force Invitational and part to Seattle for the Husky Invitational.