March 4, 2013

TUCSON - Junior Lawi Lalang, a member of the University of Arizona No. 15 men's track and field team, earned a regional distinction from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA). It was announced on Monday.

Lalang has been named the USTFCCCA West Region Track Athlete of the Year for the second-straight season. Lalang currently holds the No. 1 collegiate time in the country in the 3,000-meter race. His personal-best time of 7:42.79 at the Razorback Invitational was good for a first-place finish and broke his own school record. The impressive time ranks as the third-best in collegiate history and the fastest by a collegian since 2004.

Lalang also holds the No. 2 time in the country for the mile. He broke his own school record in the event at the Millrose Games with a personal-best time of 3:54.56. That time is also the third-best time in collegiate history in the event.

At the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships, Lalang claimed titles in the 3,000-meter race and 5,000-meter race. It has yet to be determined what event(s) Lalang will compete in at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships.