Romain Legendre and Gracie Hyde Named USTFCCCA Division II Athletes of the Week
New Orleans, LA. – Romain Legendre and Gracie Hyde earn the title of United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week, the association announced Monday. The USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award is voted on by associations communications staff and awarded at the beginning of each week.
Legendre claims National Athlete of the Week honors after shattering the NCAA Division II record in the 5000-meter at the Bryan Clay Invitational. In a field loaded with NCAA DI talent and professional athletes, the Frenchman crossed the finish line with a time of 13:16.53, beating the previous DII record by nearly six seconds. The previous record, held by Michael Aish of Western Colorado, stood for 22 years before Legendre entered Thursday’s race. On a bigger scale, the junior's 5000m performance qualified him for the European Athletics Championships on June 6-12 in Rome, Italy.
Hyde earns the title of co-NCAA Division II Athlete of the Week after a breathtaking performance at the Bryan Clay Invitational. The Benton, Ark., native destroyed a pair of NCAA DII records, one in the 3000m steeplechase and one in the 1500m. Hyde got her record-setting party started with a 9:28.17 mark in the steeplechase, beating out a plethora of DI competition. After a day of rest, Hyde came back to the track to claim the NCAA DII record in the 1500m. Her time of 4:08.95 beat the previous record by nearly three seconds, a mark that stood for 14 years. Hyde now qualifies for the 2024 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials on June 21-30 in Eugene, Ore.