UC San Diego’s Allyson Abandonato and Feyi Olukanni were named Big West Track and Field Athletes of the Week, according to a March 17 announcement by the conference. The honors were awarded after both athletes won their events and set new school records at recent meets.
The recognition highlights the achievements of two seniors who have excelled in their respective disciplines. Abandonato was named Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after winning the women’s 800 meters at San Diego State’s Aztec Coastal Classic with a time of 2:06.68, surpassing her own school record by more than two seconds. Her performance is also the second-fastest in The Big West this season. She is majoring in public health at Muir College.
Olukanni earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors following her victory in shot put at Cal State Fullerton’s Ben Brown Invitational, where she set a school record with a throw of 15.47 meters. This mark currently leads all competitors nationally. In addition to her win, Olukanni placed fifth in discus and seventh in hammer throw at the same meet. She is majoring in pharmacological chemistry at Muir College and is the reigning Big West champion in shot put.
Both athletes are the first from UC San Diego to receive these weekly conference honors this season. The Tritons will compete next on March 27-28 at UCLA’s Bob Larsen Distance Carnival and Jim Bush Legends Meet.
UC San Diego Athletics recently transitioned from NCAA Division II to Division I as members of The Big West Conference, following two decades marked by numerous team and individual national championships across its 24 sports programs.
