SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Appalachian State graduate student Patrick Morgan and The Citadel's Kevin Hardy have been tabbed the Southern Conference Men's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for all meets February 12-13. The selections are made by the league's track and field coaches.
A native of Danville, Ky., Morgan finished second in the gold division mile at the Akron Invitational. His personal-best time of 4:01.75 broke the 25-year-old school record and was also a NCAA provisional qualifier. Morgan currently leads the conference by nearly nine seconds and is ranked 26th nationally. After having competed at Furman as an undergraduate, he now holds the school record in the mile at both Furman and Appalachian State.
Hardy, a sophomore from Ocala, Fla., posted an indoor best distance of 23-6.25 in the long jump at the Gene Anderson UNC Invitational. He finished fourth overall in the event and currently leads the conference. Hardy also set personal records of 6.96 in the qualifying round and 6.95 in the finals of the 60m dash. His time of 6.95 was the fourth fastest in school history
The Mountaineers return to action Thursday when they host the Mountaineer Open. The Bulldogs travel to the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday.
Other top track performers included:
Samford's Cameron Bean, a redshirt senior from Soddy Daisy, Tenn., who took first place in two events at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C. His time of 14:28.87 in the 5000m set a new personal best and currently leads the conference. He won the 3000m with a time of 8:27.65.
Other top field performers included:
Appalachian State's Malcolm Styers, a junior from Newton, N.C., who won the blue division of the shot put at the Akron Invitational with a mark of 52-10.75. He continues to lead the conference rankings.
The Citadel's Christopher Castagno, a junior from Sugarland, Texas, who broke the school record in the 35-pound weight throw and placed second at the Gene Anderson UNC Invitational. His toss of 53-2.75 surpassed the previous record by more than 12 inches.
Samford's Patrick Wells, a senior from Hoover, Ala., who posted a personal-best mark of 16-6.0 in the pole vault to finish second at the Tiger Paw Invitational.
Western Carolina's Cale McDaniel, a senior from Jasper, Ga., who finished fourth in the shot put with a personal-best toss of 51-9.75. McDaniel also took fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 56-8.0.
Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Dec. 10 - Benny Davis, Western Carolina
Jan. 14 - Josey Weaver, Western Carolina
Jan. 21 - Alex Taylor, Appalachian State
Jan. 28 - Dominique Young, Western Carolina
Feb. 4 - Tom Divinnie, Davidson
Feb. 11 - Joey Thompson, UNC Greensboro
Feb. 18 - Patrick Morgan, Appalachian State
Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Dec. 10 - Alex Dollard, Western Carolina
Jan. 14 - Malcolm Styers, Appalachian State
Jan. 21 - Darius Purcell, Appalachian State
Jan. 28 - Michael Seaman, Samford
Feb. 4 - Darius Purcell, Appalachian State
Feb. 11 - Patrick Wells, Samford
Feb. 18 - Kevin Hardy, The Citadel