FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Big West Conference announced their 2021 Men's Athlete of the Year to be Cal State Fullerton graduate student Sammy Ayala. Ayala was the individual champion at The Big West Championships after setting a new course record in Davis, Calif. with a time of 23:34.5. Throughout the season, Ayala had two other top-five finishes and a top 25 finish at the Bill Dellinger Invite in Oregon. He took second (24:52.0) at the Mark Covert Classic and fourth (24:04.3) at the Highlander Invitational. Ayala is now the second individual from Cal State Fullerton to win a Men's Athlete of the Year (Mike Tansley, 1992 and 1993).
The Big West Conference also announced their 2021 Women's Athlete of the Year to be Cal State Fullerton senior Trinity Ruelas. Ruelas won the women's race with a time of 20:09.0 at The Big West Championships. This logs as Ruelas second individual win for the season after winning the Mark Covert Classic in a time of 17:39.5. Ruelas was the first collegiate finisher and second overall, at the Highlander Invitational after running a time of 20:04.7. Not only was Ruelas the first woman to win an individual championship, but she now becomes the first Titan to win Women's Athlete of the Year.
The recap show of the 2021 Big West Conference Championships is now available to watch on demand on ESPN+. (subscription requied).
The Titans will be back in action on Friday November 12th to compete in the NCAA West Regionals in Sacramento, Calif. at Haggin Oaks Golf Course.
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