Concordia thrower Willy Irwin, the 2013 national champion in the indoor shot put, leads the NAIA in the shot put and discus so far in the outdoor season.
Concordia's Irwin Wins Second Straight National Honor
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—For the second straight week, Concordia’s Willy Irwin has been named the NAIA Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday.
Irwin earned the national honor after he upped his national leads in both the shot put and discus at the Lewis & Clark Spring Break Open on Saturday. Irwin threw 61-2 1/4 (18.65m) in the shot put at the meet to add almost a full foot of separation over the NAIA’s No. 2 thrower in the event. Irwin’s throw in the shot put also broke the former outdoor school record of 60-7 1/4 (18.47m), set by 2012 national champion Eric Whalen. Irwin then added eight feet of separation between him and the No. 2 thrower in the discus Saturday, as he posted a season-best mark of 179-10 (54.81m) in the event.
Irwin’s second national outdoor honor follows his selection last week after he debuted in the shot put and discus at the Linfield Wildcat Open on March 16. Irwin opened the season with throws of 60-0 1/4 (18.29m) in the shot put and 171-5 (52.56m) in the discus, marks that led the nation in each event until Irwin improved those marks last Saturday.
Irwin’s second national honor also marks the 13th time since 2011 that a person within the Concordia cross country or track and field programs has been selected as a national athlete of the week.