Concordia's Irwin Wins Fourth NAIA National Field Athlete of the Week Honor
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—For the fourth time in five weeks, Concordia's Willy Irwin has been named the NAIA Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday.
Irwin has never missed out on an NAIA Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week when he' s been eligible, as he been named the national athlete of the week after all four weeks he’s competed during the 2013 outdoor season.
Irwin’s four national athlete of the week honors also rank him tied with Gabriella Dixson for the most career national honors of any athlete in school history. In addition, Irwin has already doubled the previous school record for national athlete of the week honors in a single season, a record Dixson (two honors in 2011) and Nate Moses (two honors in 2012), both national champions, had held before him.
Irwin earned his latest honor after setting a stadium record in the shot put for the second straight week. Irwin, the NAIA national leader in the shot put, set a season best in the event while shattering the stadium record at Willamette University last week, and broke the stadium record at Western Oregon University’s McArthur Field with a throw of 62-6 (19.05m) at the John Knight Twilight meet last Friday.
Irwin’s dominance in the shot put has crossed all levels of the sport this season, as he currently ranks No. 23 in the U.S. in the shot put among both professional and collegiate throwers, according to Track & Field News.
Irwin also set a new season best in the discus by almost eight feet at the meet last Friday. Irwin set his season best with a throw of 188-8 (57.46m), which ranks him No. 2 in the NAIA in the event behind Doane’s (Neb.) Zack Lindsley (193-2).