Jan. 27, 2015MADISON, Wis. -- A day after earning Big Ten Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors, Wisconsin's Michael Lihrman received a national honor, as the senior was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I Men's National Athlete of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday.It marks the first USTFCCCA weekly honor for the Rice Lake, Wisconsin, native, as he received honorable mention last year when he initially set the NCAA Division I weight throw record.In his opening meet of the 2015 season, Lihrman didn't disappoint the home crowd at the Shell, as he threw 80 feet, 3 ½ inches, on his first throw of the day in the weight throw to beat his previous personal best of 79-7 ½.Lihrman is the first UW track athlete to earn USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week honors, which began in 2012. He became the eighth American to ever throw over 80 feet in the weight throw, and is the world leader in the event this season.In addition, Lihrman is No. 6 on the world all-time list in the event, and is No 5 on the U.S. all-time list after his throw of 80-3 ½.A four-time Big Ten Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, Lihrman has never lost a collegiate competition in the weight throw as he was undefeated in all six of the meets he participated in last season.Lihrman and the Badgers continue their indoor season this weekend when they take on the Big Apple at the Armory Track Invitational in New York City.