RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Saniyah Starks has been named the Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday by the conference office. The sophomore is the second Highlander to win a Big West weekly honor this spring after Linda Perez on April 4.  

Starks won the 400m at the UC Riverside-hosted Chris Rinne Twilight on Friday with a 54.59 for a new collegiate best and her 4x400 relay team placed second with a 3:54.71. 

Her 400 time is almost a full second ahead of her second-best mark, claimed at this year's MPSF Championships with a 55.55 for third, which is also her next best finish in the event. Starks also shaved three seconds off her 400 time from last year's Chris Rinne. 

UCR will compete at this weekend's Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine before heading to the Big West Championships in Fullerton.