JONESBORO, Ark. (4/22/21) – Tremendous performances at the Red Wolves Open on Saturday by Arkansas State track and field's Bennett Pascoe, Pauline Meyer and Frank Massey resulted in the trio earning Sun Belt Conference outdoor track and field weekly honors on Thursday.
Pascoe was named the Men's Track Athlete of the Week after breaking a 53-year-old school record in the men's 1500m while Pauline Meyer also broke the women's 1500m program record en route to being named the league's Women's Track Athlete of the Week. Massey cleared the seven-foot mark for the first time in his career, jumping a personal-best height three times and was named the conference's Men's Field Athlete of the Week.
Meyer was the first record-breaker on Saturday, knocking down the fifth school record of her career with a time of 4:26.22 in the women's 1500m. Both of Meyer's outdoor records have come in the last two weeks. Her mark ranks first in the Sun Belt Conference by nearly six seconds, giving her the top time in the conference in both the 1500m and 5000m, as well as the second-best time in the 3000m steeplechase. Meyer's honor is the third of the season for the German standout, having been awarded twice during the indoor season after record-breaking performances.
Pascoe then toed the line in the next race, looking to shatter the oldest existing school record. He did just that, doing so by with a time of 3:45.27 to win the men's 1500m, breaking Bob Giersberg's record of 3:48.54 set in 1968. His mark ranks first in the Sun Belt to go along with his No. 3 time in the steeplechase set two weekends ago at Wichita State. The Conway, Arkansas, native now owns top-three times in five total events – indoor and outdoor combined – in program history.
Massey posted an impressive jumps sequence to win the men's high jump on Saturday in Jonesboro, winning with a best height of 2.17m (7-1.5). His jump marked the first time the Chicago Heights, Illinois, native eclipsed the seven-foot mark in his career. He surpassed his previous outdoor best of 2.12m (6-11.5) set in April 2019 and currently ranks first in the Sun Belt, tied for ninth in the NCAA West Region and tied for 21st in the NCAA.
NEXT UP
The Red Wolves continue their strong outdoor season this weekend, staying in the Natural State for the John McDonnell Invitational, held Saturday and Sunday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The meet was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, but was moved to Saturday and Sunday due to cold temperatures in Northwest Arkansas. The two-day meet will also be broadcast live on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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A-State Track and Field SBC Weekly Honors in 2021:
Camryn Newton-Smith (W Field) – Jan. 28
Jermie Walker (M Track) – Jan. 28
Lauren Beauchamp (W Field) – Feb. 4
Carter Shell (M Field) – 2x: Feb. 4, Feb. 18
Pauline Meyer (W Track) – 2x: Feb. 11, Feb. 18
Grace Flowers (W Field) – Feb. 18
Seth Waters (M Track) – Feb. 18
Babette Vandeput (W Field) – April 8
Lexington Hilton (M Track) – April 15
Carter Shell (M Field) – April 15
Bennett Pascoe (M Track) – April 22
Pauline Meyer (W Track) – April 22
Frank Massey (M Field) – April 22
