RIVERDALE, N.Y. - After winning the men's hammer throw Championship of America at the Penn Relays on Saturday, Manhattan College's Anastas Papazov (Balchik, Bulgaria) has been selected as Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Outdoor Track & Field Performer of the Week. This marks the third time that Papazov has been recognized by the conference during the outdoor season.
Papazov was leading heading into the final round of the competition, when York University's Daniel Nova equaled his mark of 63.47 meters (208 feet, two inches). However, Nova moved into first place because his second effort was better than Papazov's. Knowing he needed to better Nova's second-best mark of 62.96 m (206'7), Papazov uncorked a throw of 63.07 m (206'11) on his final attempt (and the last throw of the competition) to clinch the title.
He became the first Jasper to win an event at the Penn Relays since Milan Jotanovic took the shot put title in 2009. Papazov is also the first freshman in program history to win an individual Penn Relays title.
Papazov was previously honored on March 27 and April 10. Phil Ragan (Belmar, N.J.) was named MAAC Performer of the Week on April 3, while Roman Ewald (Olching, Germany) was recognized by the conference on April 17. In addition, Cara Rostant (Valley Stream, N.Y.) (March 27) and Andrea Nyback (Koping, Sweden) (April 17) have earned MAAC Performer of the Week honors on the women's side during the outdoor season.
This weekend, the Jaspers look to reclaim the men's and women's titles at the MAAC Outdoor Championships. The competition will take place at Rider University on Saturday and Sunday.
