Jeshua Anderson named by Pacific-10 Conference as Male Track Athlete of the Year...

WALNUT CREEK, California--Washington State's Jeshua Anderson (left/photo by Paul Merca), the three-time NCAA 400 hurdles champ and newly minted USA champion was named the Pac-10 Conference male track athlete of the year.

Anderson, a senior from Woodland Hills, Calif., has had a stellar year including his win Sunday at the USA Track & Field Championships in a school-record and US-leading time of 47.93 seconds.

Anderson, who plans to continue training in Pullman with his collegiate coach Mark Macdonald, will make his professional debut July 22, at the Herculis Meet in Monaco, part of the Samsung Diamond League series.

Washington State's previous male athletes honored as track or field athletes of the year by the Pac-10 includes: Anson Henry, sprinter, 2002; Bernard Lagat, middle distance, 1999; Josephat Kapkory, distance, 1994; Samuel Kibiri, distance, 1991; Gabriel Tiacoh, 400m dash, 1986.

The Pac-10 Track & Field and Coach of the Year awards for 2011:
Women's track athlete of the year: Nia Ali, USC
Women's Field Athlete of the year: Brigetta Barrett, Arizona
Women's Freshman/Newcomer of the year: English Gardner, Oregon
Women's Coach of the year: Fred Harvey, Arizona


Men's track athlete of the year: Jeshua Anderson, Washington State
Men's field athlete of the year: Jordan Clarke, Arizona State
Men's freshman/newcomer of the year: Stephen Sambu, Arizona
Men's coach of the year: Fred Harvey, Arizona

WEEKEND ROUNDUP

Here's a roundup of what we missed while we were in Eugene at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships:

Across the pond over in Bedford, England, Pac-10 sprint champion James Alaka (#22/photo courtesy UK Athletics) set a new personal-best in winning the England Under-23 National Championship at 100-meters. Alaka clocked a 10.23 second victory, and it was wind legal at that. That will move Alaka up to No. 2 all-time in Washington history, passing Pablo Franco (10.26 in 1975) and Sterling Hinds (10.27 in 1982). Alaka ran 10.29 seconds to win the Pac-10 title in May.

“I knew I was ready to run fast, and because I had the time there was no stress,” said Alaka. “To finish top three was great, especially in such a good, competitive race.”

Results from the Aviva England Athletics U23 & U20 Championships are available here.

At the Canadian championships in Calgary over the weekend, Washington alum Carly Dockendorf won the women's pole vault with a mark of 13-9 1/4 (4.20m).

In the women's high jump, current Cougar Holly Parent was second at 5-11.25 (1.81m).

Former Washington State standout Anson Henry didn't advance to the finals in the 100, running 10.59.

Current Cougar Shawn Swartz finished ninth in the men's high jump Saturday with a clearance at 6-feet, 6 inches (1.98m), clearing the opening height on the second attempt.

Recent Washington grad Ryan Vu was third in the pole vault with a mark of 16-10 3/4 (5.25m).

Another recent UW grad, Kyle Nielsen, who was the defending national champion in the javelin, finished second with a toss of 251-6 (76.67m).


Results from the Canadian Championships are available here.

NOTE:  UK Athletics, Athletics Canada, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the Pacific-10 Conference contributed to this report.