HELENA -- Montana Tech senior Morgan McClernan landed the Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference men's outdoor track athlete of the week award, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Butte native enjoyed a huge day Saturday in Billings at the season-opening Yellowjackets/Battlin' Bears Open with a sweep of the hurdles events.
McClernan began the day with a program record in the 110-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 14.29 seconds to clinch the NAIA 'B' qualifying standard in the event. It marked the first time that an Oredigger man has reached the national qualifier in the 110m. His altitude-adjusted time of 14.33 seconds ranks third in the NAIA so far this season.
He followed that with a win in the 400m hurdles, circling the track in 53.95 seconds. That time was just off teammate Adam Schrader's program record in the race, and the altitude-adjusted time of 54.06 put McClernan 10th on the national leaderboard.
An indoor national qualifier already this season in both the 60m hurdles and 4x400m relay, the Frontier weekly honor is the second of the year and the career for McClernan.
He and the Orediggers will hit the road again this Saturday, heading to Missoula for the University of Montana's Al Manuel Invitational.
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