ARLINGTON, Texas – California Baptist University’s Valentin Soca and Tarleton State’s Lokesh Sathyanathan have been named the University Credit Union Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for the meet week ending on Sunday, April 20.
 
Soca delivered a historic performance at the 2025 Bryan Clay Invitational, competing in a stacked 5,000-meter field. The junior clocked a time of 13:13.10, smashing his previous personal best by nearly 17 seconds. His performance marked the fastest time in the WAC this season and currently ranks third in the NCAA. The time also stands as the seventh-fastest in NCAA history. Already the program record holder in the 1500m and 10K, Soca now owns the California Baptist records in all three distance events.
 
On the field, Sathyanathan made a statement at the 2025 Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas. The senior soared to a distance of 8.14 meters in the men’s long jump, winning the event and establishing a new Tarleton State all-conditions school record. His mark also set a new Clyde Hart Stadium all-conditions record. The leap currently ranks first in the WAC, first in the NCAA, and is among the top 20 performances in the world this season. Sathyanathan’s performance also helped the Texans earn their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I national rankings, breaking into the top 25.
 

2025 University Credit Union WAC Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Weekly Awards

Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Daviciea McCartney, Grad., Grand Canyon (March 26) 
Valentin Soca, Jr., California Baptist (April 2)
Prosper Ekporere, So., Grand Canyon (April 9)
Casey Tow, Sr., Grand Canyon (April 16)
Valentin Soca, Jr., California Baptist (April 23)

Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week 
Jacob Thomas, Jr., Tarleton State (March 26)
Gabriele Tosti, Jr., Tarleton State (April 2)
Harrison Cornell, So., Grand Canyon (April 9)
Lokesh Sathyanathan, Sr., Tarleton State (April 23)