HPU’s Benji Szalai Named Big South Track Athlete Of The Week

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University junior Benji Szalai has been named the Big South Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced Thursday.

It marks the first time in his career that Szalai has garnered a Big South weekly honor.

The Papa, Hungary, native posted a season-best time of 9:01.51 to win the 3000m steeplechase title at Saturday’s Bill Carson Invitational. The time is the 16th fastest in the NCAA East Region this season and the top mark in the Big South.

Szalai is HPU’s finest steeple savant and will look to continue his strong season during NCAA competition in May. A four-time Junior Hungarian Champion in the event, he ran a career best 8:55.16 in the steeple in 2014. He will look to improve upon that time during the remainder of the 2015 outdoor season.

Szalai and the Panthers return to action on Saturday at the Big South 4-Way in Buies Creek, N.C.