Stipe Zunic Garners SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Week Accolades
Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | Track and Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A University of Florida indoor school record and Croatian National Record in the shot put Saturday at the Doc Hale VT Elite Meet lifted senior thrower Stipe Zunic to SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Week honors, announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Three of Zunic's attempts in his shot put series bested the Gators' previous school record (Kemal Mesic, 20.44m), and Zunic's fifth attempt was his best of the afternoon to take over the top spot on the top-10 list with a 20.61m/67-7.5 toss.
WATCH: Stipe's Record-Setting Shot Put
Zunic's mark was a personal best, the second-best in the NCAA and fifth-best in the world so far in 2015, as the Florida veteran has only improved after debuting the indoor season with a 19.97m/65-6.25 to jump into second in the record almanac right out of the gate on the young season.
The Gators will split this upcoming weekend for the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville and the Iowa State Classic in Ames Feb. 13-14 before final preparations begin for the 2015 SEC Indoor Championships in Lexington Feb. 27-28.
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: Stipe Zunic, Florida
· Claimed the top spot in the shot put at the VT Elite Meet in school-record fashion
· His mark of 67-7.5 feet was a PR and also set a new Croatian National Record in the event
· Owns the top mark in the SEC, second-best mark in the NCAA, fifth-best in the world so far this indoor season
· Three of his six attempts in his series were better than the existing UF school record
2014 TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Jan. 13: Damien Daniels, SEC Men's Freshman of the Week
Jan. 13: Bridgette Owens, SEC Women's Runner of the Week
Jan. 27: KeAndre Bates, SEC Men's Freshman of the Week
Jan. 27: Claudia Francis, SEC Co-Women's Runner of the Week
Feb. 3: KeAndre Bates, SEC Men's Freshman of the Week
Feb. 3: Marquis Dendy, SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Feb. 3: Najee Glass, USTFCCCA Division I Men's National Athlete of the Week
Feb. 3: Najee Glass, SEC Co-Men's Runner of the Week
Feb. 3: Kyra Jefferson, SEC Women's Runner of the Week
Feb. 10: Stipe Zunic, SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Week
IN THE POLLS
Women: No. 2
Men: No. 2
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