LOGAN, Utah – Utah State senior distance runner Cierra Simmons-Mecham has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Jan. 27, it was announced on Monday. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
It is the second time this year and third time in her career that Simmons-Mecham has been named USU's student-athlete of the week. With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
Simmons-Mecham broke her own school record in the 3,000 meters, this time recording a time of 9:23.86, to take fifth in the event last weekend at the Washington Invitational.
Simmons-Mecham also teamed with senior Megan Ryan, junior Melanie Muncy and sophomore Karen Christensen in the distance medley relay, where they recorded a school-record time of 11:37.89, finishing 10th overall.
Utah State is back in action Feb. 1-2, when the Aggies compete at the two-day Boise State-hosted Jacksons/Nike Boise Indoor Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.
Fans can follow the Utah State track & field programs at twitter.com/USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at instagram.com/USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN'S BASKETBALL – Sophomore guard Abel Porter (Farmington, Utah) hit the game-winning 3-point basket with 1.6 seconds remaining to give Utah State a 68-66 Mountain West road win at New Mexico last weekend. Porter hit a career-high-tying two 3-point baskets during the game and added a career-high six rebounds and a career-high-tying two steals. In all, Porter played in a career-high 32 minutes and finished the game with six points and four assists.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – Junior guard/forward Shannon Dufficy (Preston, Victoria, Australia) recorded her school-record eighth consecutive double-double in Utah State's 68-64 Mountain West home loss to New Mexico last weekend. Dufficy scored a career-high 26 points and added 10 rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block, while shooting 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from the field and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) at the free throw line against the Lobos.
GYMNASTICS – Senior Madison Ward-Sessions (Rexburg, Idaho) tied for first on floor with a 9.900 in Utah State's 196.450-194.850 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference loss at No. 16 BYU last weekend. Ward-Sessions now has 27 career titles to rank ninth all-time in school history and 17 career floor crowns, which is third all-time in school history. Ward-Sessions also finished third in the all-around against the Cougars with a 38.575, tied for fourth on vault (9.775), and placed 11th on bars (9.700) and 12th on beam (9.200).
MEN'S TENNIS – Sophomore Jose Carvajal (Pereira, Columbia) posted a 2-1 record last weekend in helping Utah State to a 1-1 record at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Austin, Texas, with a 4-2 loss against Miami (FL) and a 4-2 win against Washington. Against the Hurricanes, Carvajal notched a straight-sets win at No. 5 singles (6-3, 6-4), while his doubles match with freshman Isaac Arturo Arevalo at the first position was left unfinished. Against the Huskies, Carvajal posted another straight-sets win at No. 5 singles (7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-4)), as his win clinched the victory for the Aggies. In doubles, he again teamed up with Arevalo at the first position and the duo lost their match 6-3.
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD – Junior Luke Beattie (Woodstock, Ill.) set a personal best in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:08.78, finishing in third place, at the Washington Invitational last weekend. That time ranks third all-time in school history.
2018-19 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 3 – Jordan Love, Football
Sept. 10 – Dominik Eberle, Football
Sept. 17 – Isaac Arturo Arevalo, Men's Tennis
Sept. 24 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 1 – Adam Hendrickson, Men's Cross Country
Oct. 8 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 15 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 22 – Corinne Larsen, Volleyball
Oct. 29 – Jordan Love, Football
Nov. 5 – Darwin Thompson, Football
Nov. 12 – Cierra Simmons-Mecham, Women's Cross Country
Nov. 19 – David Woodward, Football
Nov. 26 – Sam Merrill, Men's Basketball
Dec. 3 – Quinn Taylor, Men's Basketball
Dec. 10 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Dec. 17 – Jordan Love, Football
Dec. 22 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Jan. 7 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Jan. 14 – Madison Ward-Sessions, Gymnastics
Jan. 22 – Shannon Dufficy, Women's Basketball
Jan. 28 – Cierra Simmons-Mecham, Indoor Track & Field
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