FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton track and field was recognized by the Big West Conference on Wednesday as head coach John Elders was named 2019 Big West Women's Coach of the Year, Marcel Espinoza was named Big West Men's Track Athlete of the Year and Samantha Huerta was named Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
MARCEL ESPINOZA - MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Junior • Sprints • Santa Monica, Calif. • Santa Monica HS
• Second Titan to receive Men's Track Athlete of the Year accolades (Darion Zimmerman, 2017)
• Garnered three first place finishes at the Big West Championships – 400 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay
• Broke his own school record in the 400m with a time of 45.87
• Became just the second 400m winner in conference meet history to run a sub-46 second race – Corey Nelson of Boise State (45.36) in 1999
• Ranks No. 8 in the West Region and No. 19 in the NCAA for the 400 meters
• Ran the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay which finished in a school record 3:08.48
• Helped the Titans win the 4x100 relay title for the fourth consecutive year (40.33)
• Posted 200 meters time of 21.13 to finish second at conference meet
• Named Big West Men's Track Athlete of the Week on two occasions – April 2 and April 15
Congrats to Marcel Espinoza on being named @BigWestXCTF Men's Track Athlete of the Year!https://t.co/gNtSOcGIpR#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/0Z0rm3XMtA
— Titans Track & Field (@FullertonTFXC) May 15, 2019
SAMANTHA HUERTA - WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Junior • Distance • La Mirada, Calif. • La Mirada HS
• Second Titan to claim Women's Track Athlete of the Year honors (Ciara Short, 2010 & 2011)
• Became the first CSF athlete to win double gold in the 800 and 1,500 meters at the Big West Championship
• Captured the 800 meter title for the second straight year, finishing in 2:04.81
• First CSF individual to win the 1,500 meters (4:30.66) in the 36th running of the conference meet
• Ran a school record 2:04.33 at the Titan Team Challenge on March 30 – that time currently ranks No. 8 in the West Region and No. 14 nationally
• Notched a school record 1,500 meter time (4:18.39) at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 17 - No. 25 on the TFRRS national list
• Earned Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Week twice – March 19 and April 2
Congrats to Samantha Huerta on being named @BigWestXCTF Women's Track Athlete of the Year!https://t.co/gNtSOcGIpR#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Mj5h26Vkza
— Titans Track & Field (@FullertonTFXC) May 15, 2019
JOHN ELDERS - WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
31st Season
• Named Big West Women's Coach of the Year for the first time
• Led Cal State Fullerton to its first conference championship after program's best finish was fourth in 33 previous meets
• Guided team to 129.5 points, highest total in program history
• Achieved first women's title on the heels of CSF's first two men's championships in 2017 and 2018
• Two Titans notched three first place medals at the Big West Championships, including Iesha Hamm (high jump) and Samantha Huerta (800 meters, 1,500 meters)
• Marked the first time in school history that a CSF athlete won the high jump and 1,500 meters at the Big West meet
Congrats to John Elders on being named @BigWestXCTF Women's Coach of the Year!https://t.co/gNtSOcGIpR#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/fGhiwJPMBD
— Titans Track & Field (@FullertonTFXC) May 15, 2019
Next up for the Titans is NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round on Thursday, May 23 through Saturday, May 25 at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif. The meet will feature the top-48 student-athletes in each event.