LONG BEACH, Calif. -- For the first time in program history, the Vanguard Track & Field teams has received a Player of the Week award in the Pacific West Conference, as Kaylee Best was announced as the women's Field Athlete of the Week.  Best has been phenomenal on the field in 2026, and the freshman has vaulted to the top of the long and triple jump categories in the VU record books in her debut season.  While she set the school record in the long jump two weeks ago, this week, Best finished second at the UCI Vince O'Boyle meet with a distance of 19' 6".  Out of the 16 individuals, Best beat jumpers from UCI, UC Riverside, and PLNU, coming up just a few meters shy of the top spot, held by a UCI athlete.  With that feat in the books, Best then reset her own top mark in the triple jump, as she reached 40' 6 ¾" on her last attempt to finish second.  Best again cleared NCAA DI foes and added almost three inches to her distance to the VU school record.
 
Best has four more meets to increase her power before searching for the first PacWest individual victory in VU history.  Her next opportunity will be this Friday at the Moorpark Open.