ROLLA, Mo. – For the third consecutive week, Missouri S&T’s track and field program has received recognition from the Great Lakes Valley Conference with its “Athlete of the Week” selections – and this time, both teams had individuals earn the weekly award.
Bryan Kluge, who set a school record in the 800-meter run Saturday at the Cyclone Open at Iowa State and made an NCAA Division II provisional mark in the process, was named as the men’s track athlete of the week. Meanwhile, Tamara McCaskill landed the women’s field athlete award for this week after making a NCAA provisional mark of her own in the high jump Saturday.
Kluge posted a time of 1:52.78 in the 800 Saturday at Iowa State, giving him the third-best time of the season in NCAA Division II in the event. He is a native of Wright City, Mo., and attended St. Dominic High School.
McCaskill, a senior from Edwardsville, Ill., who is competing in indoor track for the first time this season, cleared 5-7 ¼ to make her provisional mark in the high jump at the Dr. Jim Green Invitational at Illinois College Saturday afternoon. McCaskill, who placed third in the outdoor high jump last spring at the NCAA Division II Championships, is ranked fifth in the high jump after the weekend performance.
Missouri S&T’s men’s team has had an individual named as the league’s “Athlete of the Week” in each of the two previous weeks, as hurdler Terry Robinson was named on Jan. 26 and pole vaulter Jared Anders landed the honor last week.
In addition to the weekly h onors for Kluge and McCaskill, Missouri S&T has also moved up two spots in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association men’s rankings. The Miners improved to the No. 16 spot in the new rankings and remain as the highest ranked team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Missouri S&T is currently ranked fourth in the Midwest Region and is the only GLVC team in the top five in the region.
The Miners and Lady Miners will compete this weekend at the Tyson Invitational at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.