March 20, 2012

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State track and field student-athletes Hunter Nelson and Lindsey Spencer were tabbed the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for the week of March 12-18, as announced by the league office Tuesday. Nelson was named the Men's Track Athlete of the Week, while Spencer was the Women's Field Athlete of the Week.

This is the first WAC Track and Field Athlete of the Week honor for both Nelson and Spencer. Spencer was also named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 18, an award that is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

Spencer, a native of Ogden, Utah (Fremont HS/Weber State), leads the nation in the discus after breaking the USU school record with a toss of 53.10m (174-02) to win the event at Arizona's Willie Williams Classic and Dave Murray Distance Carnival in Tucson, Ariz., on March 16-17.

Additionally, Spencer passed former Aggie great and All-American Krista Larson for the top USU spot in the hammer throw with a toss of 60.30 meters (197-10), which ranks her at No. 5 in the nation this season as well as leading the WAC in the event.

Nelson, a senior from Lolo, Mont. (Big Sky HS), claimed the only event title for the USU men by winning the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:50.07 at Arizona's Willie Williams Classic and Dave Murray Distance Carnival in Tucson, Ariz. on March 16-17. With the time, Nelson leads the WAC in the 1,500m and the time is also the eighth-best time in the nation this season.

Action continues for the Aggies as they travel to Irvine, Calif., for UC Irvine's Spring Break Invitational on Friday and Saturday, March 23-24. USU will host its lone home meet of the season, the Mark Faldmo Invitational, on Saturday, April 21 at the Ralph Maughan Track Stadium.

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-USU-