BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point earned three Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Weekly Awards, while Lehigh earned two. Bucknell and Holy Cross garnered one apiece when the League office announced the awards on Tuesday.
Army West Point junior Anthony Diaz was named Patriot League Outdoor Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after winning gold in the 10,000 meters with a time of 29:29.22. His mark ranks third in the Patriot League this season. Lehigh junior Abby Klebe earned Patriot League Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honors after earning two gold medals on the weekend. Her 800-meter time of 2:05.22 established a school record and Lehigh and ranks 36th in NCAA DI. She also earned gold in the 1,500-meter with a time of 4:24.84.
Lehigh’s Wil Jaques earned Patriot League Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after winning the javelin at the Bison Open Classic. Jaques’ mark of 68.23m (223’ 10”) leads the Patriot League and ranks 32nd in NCAA DI. Army West Point senior Emily Fink was named Patriot League Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after breaking the Bucknell facility record in the hammer throw, with a mark of 67.19m (220” 5”) to earn gold in the event. The Wisconsin native also won the shot put with a mark of 15.40m (50’ 6.25”). She leads the League in both events, with her season-best hammer throw mark ranking third in NCAA DI.
Two League freshmen shared Patriot League Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Co-Rookies of the Week honors. Army West Point’s John Phelps and Bucknell’s Gabriel Pecaitis each finished second in the pole vault with a mark of 4.86m (15’ 11.25”). The duo are tied for fourth in the League this season. Holy Cross freshman Abby Desmarais earned Patriot League Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Rookie of the Week honors after earning two individual gold medals and two relay gold medals. The Massachusetts native individual victories in the 200m (25.37) and 100m (11.94), while also contributing to the Crusaders’ victories in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay.
Boston University’s Abby Waddington and Owen Faulha, Bucknell’s Alex Lea, Evelyn Bliss and Henry Didden, and Holy Cross’ Liam Lyons and Haley Murphy garnered honorable mention nods this week.
Patriot League Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Anthony Diaz, Army West Point, Jr., Distance, Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale
*Diaz won the 10,000m at the Bison Outdoor Classic in a time of 29:29.22.
*His mark ranks third in the Patriot League this season.
Patriot League Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Abby Klebe, Lehigh, Jr., Mid-Distance, Chesterbrook, Pa./Conestoga
*Klebe earned two gold medals by winning the 800m (2:05.22) and the 1,500m (4:24.84).
*The 800m time is a Lehigh school record and places her 36th in NCAA DI, while also leading the Patriot League.
Patriot League Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Wil Jaques, Lehigh, Jr., Javelin, Amherst, N.H./Souhegan
*Jaques won the javelin at the Bison Outdoor Classic with a mark of 68.23m (223’ 10”).
*The mark leads the Patriot League and ranks 32nd in NCAA DI.
Patriot League Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Emily Fink, Army West Point, Sr., Throws, Three Lakes, Wisc./Three Lakes
*Fink won the hammer throw (67.19m | 220’ 5”) and shot put (15.40m | 50’ 6.25”) at the Bison Outdoor Classic.
*The hammer throw mark broke the facility record and would rank 7th in NCAA DI if she did not already hold the 3rd overall mark this season.
Patriot League Men’s Co-Rookie of the Week
John Phelps, Army West Point, Fr., Pole Vault, Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier
*Phelps earned a second-place finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.86m (15’ 11.25’).
*The mark is tied for fourth in the League this season.
Gabriel Pecaitis, Bucknell, Fr., Pole Vault, Gerrysburg, Pa./Gettysburg
*Pecaitis earned a second-place finish in the pole vault, clearing 4.86m (15’ 11.25’).
*The mark is tied for fourth in the League this season.
Patriot League Women’s Rookie of the Week
Abby Desmarais, Holy Cross, Fr., Sprints, Framingham, Mass./Framingham
*Desmarais earned four gold medals on the weekend with individual victories in the 200m (25.37) and 100m (11.94), while also contributing to the Crusaders’ gold medals in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay.
Honorable Mention
Abby Waddington, Boston University, So., Distance, Mullica Hill, N.J./Clearview Regional
*Waddington logged a 10,000m time of 35:44.92 which is tops in the Patriot League this season.
Owen Faulha, Boston University, Jr., Javelin, Hardwick, Mass./Quabbin Regional
*Faulha logged a javelin mark of 67.45m (221’ 3”), which is second in the League and 39th nationally.
Alex Lea, Bucknell, Fr., Sprints, Center Valley, Pa./ Southern Lehigh
*Lea won the 200m with a time of 24.06, which leads the Patriot League.
*The mark is the second-fastest in Bucknell history.
Evelyn Bliss, Bucknell, So., Javelin, Rimersburg, Pa./Union AC Valley
*Bliss won the javelin with a toss of 54.32m (178’ 2”), establishing a new facility record.
*Her mark ranks 12th in the NCAA and leads the Patriot League.
Henry Didden, Bucknell, Jr., Distance, Woodland Hills, Calif./Viewpoint
*Didden finished as the runner-up with a 29:34.06 time in the 10,000m at the Bison Outdoor Classic.
*The time was the best logged by a Bison runner since 1992.
Liam Lyons, Holy Cross, Jr., Mid-Distance/Distance, Irvington, N.Y./Irvington
*Lyons logged a mile mark of 3:59.75, which is a Holy Cross school record.
*The mark converts to a 3:41.99 1,500m time, which would rank fourth in the League this season.
Haley Murphy, Holy Cross, Sr., Sprints/Hurdles, Danvers, Mass./Danvers
*Murphy broke the Holy Cross record in the 400-meter hurdles with a mark of 59.60.
*The mark leads the Patriot League and ranks 75th in NCAA DI.
*She also logged strong times in the 400m and 4x400-meter relay.
PATRIOT LEAGUE OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2024-25 Patriot League Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held in Worchester, Mass. at the College of the Holy Cross. Events at Hart Track begin Friday, May 2, and conclude on Saturday, May 3. All nine men's programs and each of the 10 women's teams will compete.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.