Phetisang Makhethe named this weeks WAC Field Athlete of the Week

Tuesday 02/15/2022 | By: NM State Athletic Media Relations

Makhethe continues to make a name for herself in the throws

LAS CRUCES – It's been an impressive start for the South African freshman's young collegiate career so far. This week Phetisang Makhethe was named the WAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Week for Feb. 9 through 13.

This is the first time she's been recognized for the award, as she had a trio of impressive performances over the last three weeks. Last weekend at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, she competed in the weight throw for only the third time in her collegiate career, recording a personal-best mark of 18.06m (59' 3"), giving her fifth in the competition. This mark was also good enough to place her fifth on the school's record book for the weight throw.

Although this performance was the only one of the season to give her WAC Athlete of the Week recognition, this wasn't the only impressive performance she's had so far this season. In her collegiate debut, she set a mark of 17.16m (56' 3.75"), which was good for fifth in the event and ninth on the school's all-time record book. The following week at the New Mexico Classic, she bested her mark with a throw of 17.79m (58' 4.5"), which put her second in the competition. At the time, this was enough for fifth on the school's record book. She now holds three spots on the school's all-time record book (fifth, sixth, ninth)

The last time an Aggie was awarded WAC Athlete of the Week for track and field was on May 4, 2021, when Dascha Robinson took home the honors for her performance in the triple jump at the Desert Heat Classic, where she recorded a personal best jump of 13.32m (43' 8.5"). The last time a thrower was given Athlete of the Week honors was back on April 13, 2021, when now assistant coach Yemisi Oroyinyin competed in the shot put, posting a mark of 15.65m (51' 4.25")

You can catch Makhethe competing again this weekend as she joins the rest of the NM State Indoor Track & Field Team up in Albuquerque for WAC Indoor Championships where they look to defend their title from 2020.

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Makhethe continues to make a name for herself in the throws

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