Cal Poly’s distance team has earned both the Big West Men’s and Women’s Track Athlete of the Week awards for the final week of the season. On Tuesday, Aidan McCarthy was named Big West Men’s Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this year and fifth time in his career. Freshman Melisse Djomby Enyawe received her first career honor as Big West Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.
This achievement marks four consecutive weeks in which at least two Cal Poly track and field athletes have received these honors, setting a new record for the conference.
McCarthy was recognized after running a lifetime best in the 800 meters at the Franson Last Chance Invite hosted by Azusa Pacific University. His time of 1:45.53 is currently fourth fastest in NCAA outdoor competition this season and leads all times in the West Region for 2025. He finished more than a second ahead of his nearest competitor. The performance also broke his own school record by .73 seconds, and he came within .34 seconds of his all-conditions personal best.
Earlier this year, McCarthy placed third in the 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, becoming “the first Cal Poly men’s track and field athlete to secure Division I First Team All-American honors in an event on the track indoors and just the third overall.”
Djomby Enyawe earned her award after recording a personal best time of 4:27.41 in the 1,500 meters at Saturday’s meet. The Newport Beach native improved her previous best by over two seconds, now ranking seventh among Big West athletes this season. She finished twelfth overall and fourth in her section.
Cal Poly is scheduled to compete next at the Big West Championships at Long Beach State’s Jack Rose Track on Friday and Saturday. Last year, Cal Poly became “the first school in 14 years to sweep the men’s and women’s Big West titles.”
