SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford junior Hillary Neal and Elon's Veronica Day have been honored as the Southern Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for all meets February 12-13. This marks Neal's second consecutive honor. The selections are made by the league's track & field coaches.
A native of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Neal finished second in the mile at the Tiger Paw Invitational. Her time of 4:57.90 currently leads the conference. Neal also split 2:11 on the 800 meter leg of the distance medley relay. The Bulldogs placed second in the event with a time of 12:01, good for first in the conference rankings.
Day, a junior from Vienna, Va., won the long jump at the Liberty Open with a leap of 18-11.75. Her mark is currently first in the league. Day also won the triple jump with a distance of 38-9.75. Both marks set new school records.
The Bulldogs return to action Friday when they compete at the Tiger Tune-Up in Clemson, S.C. The Phoenix will next compete at the Southern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships February 25-26.
Other top track performers included:
Appalachian State's Ashley McKiver, a senior from High Point, N.C., who placed fifth in the gold division of the 60 meters at the Akron Invitational with a time of 7.68 . She also placed second in the blue division of the 200 meters wit ha time of 25.34.
College of Charleston's Jelain McArthur, a freshman from Laurens, S.C., who ran 8.93 in the preliminaries and 9.01 in the finals of the 60 meter hurdles, breaking the school record by three-tenths of a second. She finished third at the Gene Anderson UNC Invitational and is currently ranked third in the conference.
Wofford's Andrea Kelsey, a freshman from Kettering, Ohio, who finished eighth in the 5K at the Tiger Paw Invitational. Her time of 18:29 broke the school record by more than 30 seconds.
Other top field performers included:
Appalachian State's Danielle Thorpe, a senior from Durham, N.C., who placed second in the gold division of the triple jump at the Akron Invitational. Her leap of 40-2.0 was a season best.
Samford's Chenelle Terry, a freshman from Antioch, Tenn., who finished third at the Tiger Paw Invitational in the high jump. Her leap of 5-7.0 set a new personal best and ranks third in the league.
Western Carolina's Zakiyyah Stewart, a junior from Hickory, N.C., who posted a distance of 44-1.0 in the shot put at the Tiger Paw Invitational. It improved her personal best by 5.5 inches.
Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Dec. 8 - Shalyn McMichael, Western Carolina
Jan. 14 - Andrea Kelsey, Wofford
Jan. 21 - Ashley McKiver, Appalachian State
Jan. 28 - Katie Hansen, UNC Greensboro
Feb. 4 - Micah Wessinger, The Citadel
Feb. 11 - Hillary Neal, Samford
Feb. 18 - Hillary Neal, Samford
Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Dec. 8 - Tiana Jones, Western Carolina
Jan. 14 - Whitney Smyre, Appalachian State
Jan. 21 - Julie Ward, Appalachian State
Jan. 28 - Chelsea Taylor, College of Charleston
Feb. 4 - Jelain McArthur, College of Charleston
Feb. 11 - Laura Bedsole, Samford
Feb. 18 - Veronica Day, Elon