PROVO -- Senior Josh Rohatinsky and sophomore Whitney McDonald have been named the BYU Track Athletes of the Week after turning in two of the all-time top performances in their respective events over the weekend.
Rohatinsky, the 2006 National Cross Country Champion, smashed two-time Olympian Ed Eyestone's 23-year-old school record in the 5,000 meters over the weekend, completing the race in a blistering time of 13:25.53 at the Mt. SAC relays. Rohatinsky's time not only beat Eyestone's record by more than seven seconds, but also it was the second fastest collegiate time recorded in the country this season. Rohatinsky, a native of Provo, is the son of Ray and Sylvia Rohatinsky.
"It was the greatest performance in the 5,000 meters we have ever had at BYU," distance coach and former record holder Ed Eyestone said. "Josh didn't just break the record, he shattered it. People have asked me if I was upset that Josh broke my record. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a coach, you want to see your guys run fast, and it was an honor for me as a coach to see him break the school record. I am very happy for him."
McDonald, a sophomore from Thousand Oaks, Calif., set a new BYU and Mountain West Conference records in the 5,000 meters at the Mt. SAC relays over the weekend. McDonald competed in the same heat that saw Nike's Shalane Flanagan break the women's 5,000-meter American Record in a time of 14:44.80. Mc Donald was the fourth collegiate runner to cross the finish line in a time of 15:44.55. McDonald's time was an improvement over the previous record, set by All-American Michaela Mannova, by more than five seconds. McDonald is the daughter of Patrick and Cheri McDonald.
"We've had some great athletes at BYU over the years, including Elizabeth Jackson, Kassie Andersen and Michaela Mannova. Those are three great athletes," distance coach Patrick Shane said. "Each one of those are once-in-a-lifetime athletes a coach can only hope for. Then, here comes Whitney McDonald. In just a few short months, she got herself in position to challenge for the school record. To run 5,000 meters in a time of 15:44 -- that's incredible. I'm in awe of her talent, which is just beginning to surface. She has a bright, bright future ahead of her.
Shane said McDonald was part of the top women's 5,000 meter race ever assembled on American soil.
"This was the strongest field of 5,000 meter runners ever assembled in the United States," he said. "The conditions were perfect. As I would encourage her throughout the race, she would smile each time. She was having a lot of fun out there."