KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Mid-American Conference announced its athletes of the week earlier today, and graduate student Makayla Perez was able to earn the women's track honor. This is Perez's first track athlete of the week honor since transferring to WMU from Michigan State. Perez is also the first Bronco to claim a MAC weekly track and field award since Erin Dowd was named athlete of the week in 2020. 

Perez was outstanding in her event last week, competing at Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational. She took part in the 5,000-meter run, where she was able to collect 25th place with a time of 16:03.59. That mark was 20 seconds better than the previous school record, which Perez also owned. Her previous school-record time was 16:23.94. 

Additionally, Perez's time is good for second in the MAC so far this season and the 47th best mark in the NCAA. Perez will lead the Broncos into the Indoor MAC Championships next week in Bowling Green, Ohio. Competition is set for Feb. 24-25.