After clearing a height never before achieved by a Seattle University high jumper, junior Shaddye Melu (Auburn, Wash.) has been named the Western Athletic Conference Male Field Athlete of the Week, announced Tuesday morning by the league office.
At the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., last Friday, Melu clinched the event victory in the men’s high jump by clearing 2.09 meters (6’ 10.25”), but he raised the bar, clearing 2.14 meters, or seven feet and 0.25 inches, on his first attempt of the day at that height, breaking his own school record.
“It was extremely exciting to see Shaddye leap over the seven-foot barrier,” Seattle U assistant track and field coach Chad Pharis said. “He has seen that bar a few times this year which gave him the confidence to clear it when it came around again. Getting the win against a field of great competitors from across the country gave Shaddye some much needed experience as he heads into the remainder of the season.”
Melu increased his lead on the WAC performance list in the high jump to 6/100ths of a meter (2.5 inches), and he is now tied for 18th on the NCAA Division I West performance list in the event. The conference champion in the high jump at the 2015 WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, Melu has been named the league’s field athlete of the week on three occasions this year.
“Shaddye getting over this barrier is huge for him mentally going forward as well as huge for our program. He is setting himself up well for the national level this year as well as next,” added Trisha Steidl, head coach of the Seattle U track and field team.
The Seattle University track and field team heads north to Bellingham, Wash., for the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational, hosted by Western Washington University at Civic Stadium Saturday, April 25, starting at 9 a.m.