SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Kalathan Laiwa-McKay of the men's track & field team and Jordan Vasquez of the women's basketball team have been named the Cal State San Marcos Student-Athletes of the Month for February 2024.
 
The CSUSM Student-Athletes of the Month awards are determined through a vote of all Department of Athletics coaches, administrators and staff. Each in-season program nominates a student-athlete to be considered for the award each month.
 
Laiwa-McKay was the CCAA Field Athlete of the Week for Feb. 19-25 after he broke the school record in the shot put with an NCAA provisional of 55-11 (17.04 meters) – three feet (0.93 meters) better than his previous best while surpassing Ndoto Strong's record of 55-3.5 (16.85m) set in 2019. The Ukiah native also moved to fifth place in the school record books in the hammer throw with a mark of 164-4 (50.10m).
 
Vasquez led the Cougars with 16.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, 56 field goals and a 54.4 field-goal percentage in February. She set a new program single-game record with 21 rebounds against Stanislaus State (Feb. 10). Vasquez also tallied seven double-doubles in points and rebounds out of the nine games played. She scored 20 or more points in four games with a season-high 22 points at Cal State Dominguez Hills and picked up her second CCAA Player of the Week of the season in February. 
 
This is the first CSUSM Student-Athlete of the Month honor for Laiwa-McKay and the fourth for Vasquez.