Sterr, Thaxton win Midwest Conference Weekly Track Awards
MONMOUTH, Ill. (04/20/2021) — For the second week in a row the Monmouth College track and field team earned two Midwest Conference weekly awards as distance runner Julia Sterr (Clinton, Illinois) and thrower Drew Thaxton (Decatur, Illinois) were honored.
Sterr set a new career-high in the 10,000m run Friday night at Augustana's Meet of Champions. Her time of 38:23.64 not only won by more than 25 seconds, but it is also the fastest time in the conference this season by more than four minutes. Sterr's time ranks 19th in the nation for a Division III runner this season and is the second-fastest 10,000m in school history. Caitlin Allen holds the school record with a run of 38:05.07 at the Augustana meet in 2018.
Thaxton wins the Field Performer of the Week for the second time this season after setting a new outdoor personal best while winning the Shot Put Saturday at Augustana. His throw of 16.63m (54' 6.75") came just short of a new school record and is the best performance in the MWC this year. Chris Sondgeroth threw 16.67m (54' 8.25") back in 1997 and Thaxton has two of Monmouth's top 10 throws all-time. His throw from Saturday ranks seventh in Division III for Shot Put. Thaxton also finished third in the Discus Throw at Augustana with a throw of 47.75m (156' 8"). That performance is also an outdoor career high for the senior and ranks 17th in Division II this season, first in MWC.
The Fighting Scots have won five Track and Field Performer of the Week awards this season. They are next in action on Friday at the Millikin Invite in Decatur, Illinois.