Bethke named Pac-10 Men's Track Athlete of the Week

For the second week in a row, a member of the Arizona State University track and field program has earned an honor from the Pac-10 Conference with Brandon Bethke being selected the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, the Conference announced Monday. The honor is the first for Bethke and third overall earned for the Sun Devils after Charonda Williams (track) and Sarah Stevens (field) earned the women’s honors last week.

Bethke, in his first 5,000m race since last May, finished sixth overall and first among collegiate athletes at the Mt. SAC Relays last weekend, crossing the finish line in 13:27.79. His time, the fastest in the NCAA so far this season, broke the previous school record by nearly 10 seconds, bettering the 13:37.71 ran by Aaron Aguayo in 2007. His time also improved upon his previous best of 14:22.82, which he ran last year.

Ranked sixth in the nation currently at 1,500m, Bethke’s 5,000m mark is the second-best in the Pac-10 this year (which includes indoor marks) and the best among times achieved outdoors while also standing as the ninth-fastest in the world.

The Sun Devils will return to action in a pair of meets this weekend, including the Sun Devil Invitational and the UCSD Triton Invitational, both of which will take place on Friday and Saturday.

Pac-10 Athletes of the Week - April 20
Women’s Track: Anita Campbell - Washington
Women’s Field: Marissa Tschida - Washington State
Men’s Track: Brandon Bethke - Arizona State
Men’s Field: Trent Arrivey - Washington State

2009 Pac-10 Athletes of the Week - ASU
Women’s Track - Charonda Williams (April 13)
Women’s Field - Sarah Stevens (April 13)
Men’s Track - Brandon Bethke (April 20)
Men’s Field - none