WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -Â Chukwuebuka Enekwechi was named the men's Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The award is the first weekly outdoor accolade of his career.
Enekwechi earned the award by doing something that no other thrower has done this season. He is the only individual to rank in the top eight nationally in multiple throwing events, which he currently does in the hammer throw and shot put. Enekwechi won both events over the weekend with marks of 68.97m (226-3) in the hammer and 19.46m (63-10.25). Those distances rank fourth and eighth in the country, respectively. Enekwechi also threw the discus for the first time in his career and finished sixth.
With his hammer throw mark, Enekwechi broke his own school record from a season ago, and also re-set his Nigerian National Record, though it will officially have to be verified. His shot put distance was a personal best and ranks second in school history behind Olympian Nedzad Mulabegovic.
Enekwechi won three Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week during the indoor season and four indoor awards in 2014.
The Boilermakers are back in action this weekend with the Kansas Relays. Enekwechi is scheduled to compete in the shot put and hammer throw.