Heckel awarded MW Athlete of the Week
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After posting the seventh-fastest 10,000-meter time in the NCAA this spring, New Mexico’s Emma Heckel was named the Mountain West Track & Field Athlete of the Week announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
“It was Emma’s first chance to run a fast 10,000, and for her to run one of the top times in the United States and be one of the fastest young runners in the world is very impressive,” said UNM head coach Joe Franklin. “Hopefully it will bode well for the rest of the season.”
Heckel crossed the finish line at the Stanford Invitational in sixth place in an elite heat late on Friday night, posting a time of 32:31.61 minutes. That was more than half a minute of improvement upon her previous collegiate best of 33:05.02 minutes, as she vaulted to the top of the Mountain West Conference performance list and into the top-10 in the event nationally.
In her second season with the Lobos, this marks Heckel’s first-career Mountain West weekly honor. It is the 14th award overall for the Lobos including the indoor track and field season.
The Lobos host the UNM Spring Invitational on Thursday at the UNM Track Complex.