ST. LOUIS -- Top times in the national scene helped to set the Wichita State University track and field athletes apart from the rest of the Missouri Valley Conference competition as the Shockers swept the athlete-of-the-week awards as announced by the conference on Tuesday, Mar. 29.

Tanya Friesen, Tonya Nero, Marius Sava and Jordan Zerr were named the women's field and track and men's track and field athletes-of-the-week.

Nero, an all-American in cross country and indoor track and field continued to showcase why she is one of the top athletes in the Missouri Valley Conference following her performance at the Stanford Invitational on Friday, Mar. 25.  Nero broke her own record in the 10,000-meter run in her native country of Trinidad and Tobago while also setting a new Missouri Valley and Wichita State record in the event with a time of 33:32.84.  Her time placed her second overall in the country (NCAA West) while putting her atop the Valley standings.

Friesen set personal bests in six heptathlon events during the two-day Angelo State University Spring Break Multi.  She came in third overall in the heptathlon with 5,112 points which slots her fifth overall in Shocker history and second in the country (NCAA West).  Friesen set PR's in the javelin (121' 9") and the 800-meter run (2:31.24) during day two of the meet while also eclipsing her previous best in the 200-meter dash during day one (25.04).

Sava was the top men's athlete for the Shockers in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational on Friday, Mar. 23.  Sava, who already ranks in the top-10 in the WSU record books for the event, ran a 9:08.77 to finish 10th overall in section-1 of the race. Sava's time puts him 11th overall in the country (NCAA West) and first in the Missouri Valley.

Zerr continued to climb up the rankings in the decathlon after the Grinnell, Kan., native produced an all-conference finish during last year's multi-event at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships.  Zerr, who finished second in the Valley at the indoor championships, finished third at this past weekend's Angelo State University Spring Break Multi where he tallied 6,960 points.  Zerr's point total included personal best of 167' 4" in the javelin throw and a second place showing in the pole vault (14' 3.25").  He ranks 10th in Shocker history (6,960 pts.), first in the Valley and second in the nation (NCAA West).

-- Wichita State --