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

April 20, 2009

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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/bethke_brandon00.html">… Bethke</a> 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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/williams_charonda00.htm… Williams</a> (track) and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/stevens_sarah00.html">S… Stevens</a> (field) earned the women’s honors last week.<separator></separator>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 <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/aguayo_aaron00.html">Aa… Aguayo</a> in 2007. His time also improved upon his previous best of 14:22.82, which he ran last year.<separator></separator>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.<separator></separator>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.<separator></separator>Pac-10 Athletes of the Week - April 20 Women’s Track: Anita Campbell - Washington Women’s Field: Marissa Tschida - Washington State Men’s Track: <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/bethke_brandon00.html">… Bethke</a> - Arizona State Men’s Field: Trent Arrivey - Washington State<separator></separator>2009 Pac-10 Athletes of the Week - ASU Women’s Track - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/williams_charonda00.htm… Williams</a> (April 13) Women’s Field - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/stevens_sarah00.html">S… Stevens</a> (April 13) Men’s Track - <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/bethke_brandon00.html">… Bethke</a> (April 20) Men’s Field - none