TAMPA - Sophomore hurdler David Aristil was named the BIG EAST Male Track Athlete of the Week Tuesday afternoon, in an announcement made by the conference office.

Aristil ran 51.83 in the 400-meter hurdles among stiff competition at the Florida Relays last Friday, placing seventh overall at the meet but second among collegiate competitors.

Already owning the second-best time in the BIG EAST this season after his 51.63 at the Bulls Invitational March 19, Aristil's 51.83 would be the third best in the conference as well. In addition to ranking second in the BIG EAST, the sophomore ranks 20th in the nation in the 400 hurdles.

The Boynton Beach, Fla., native has qualified for the BIG EAST Championships in the 110 and 400 hurdles and the 400 meters and nearly qualified in the 800 meters in the first and only time running the event during his career at the FSU Relays March 26.

His season best of 14.17 in the 110 hurdles ranks him third in the conference and 31st in the nation heading into the weekend, while he also ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in the 400. Aristil ranks third all-time at USF in the 110 and 400 hurdles and in the 400 meters.

The award is the third of the year for the USF program and the second in two weeks. Sophomore Jared Thomas earned Field Athlete of the Week honors last week after posting the fourth-longest throw in the nation in the discus, while freshman Lindsey Lamar also earned Track Athlete of the Week accolades in January during the indoor season.

It is also the fourth award overall for USF since the BIG EAST began handing them out last year after Glenn Fowler picked up the Track Athlete of the Week Award March 25, 2009.

Aristil and the Bulls will be back in action Friday and Saturday at the Sea Ray Relays at the University of Tennessee.