PROVO -- BYU senior Trent Powell received the Mountain West Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week after clearing 18 feet 0.5 inches in the pole vault last week at the Cougar Invitational.
The Mesa, Ariz. native's mark in the event is currently the best mark in the nation, a new Mountain West Conference record and the fourth best mark in school history. But perhaps most importantly a lifetime best for Powell.
"He's been waiting all his life for this," BYU men's track coach Mark Robison said after the meet. "After he no-heighted last week, for the first time in his life, I didn't expect such a great mark."
Powell, a two-time All-American, leads a strong pole vault squad that includes Robbie Pratt, who currently holds the third best mark in the nation.
For the second consecutive week, an athlete from the men's track team garnered conference honors. Steeplechase star Josh McAdams was honored last week.