California track & field's Mykolas Alekna was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Men's Athlete of the Week for the sixth time in his career and the second weekend in a row. Alekna, who had already received the award more times than any man since its inception in 2015, is the first to repeat in the category since Anderson Peters (Mississippi State) in 2019.
 
The 22-year-old Lithuanian redshirt junior crushed his own world record twice Sunday at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational in Ramona, Oklahoma, finishing with a mark of 75.56m (247-10) that was nearly four feet better than his previous career high of 74.35m (243-11). He is the only man in history to surpass the 75-meter barrier and leads the all-time world list by two-and-a-half feet. Alekna's result also broke his own collegiate record (previously 71.00m/232-11) and ACC record (formerly 70.09m/229-11).
 
The Bears will be back in action this week at two meets – the Mt. SAC Relays (April 17-19 in Walnut) and the Bryan Clay Invitational (April 18 in Azusa) – while Alekna himself will next step into the circle at the 130th Big Meet on May 3 in Berkeley.
 
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