SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina’s Justin Kenard and The Citadel’s Capers Williamson have garnered Southern Conference Track and Field Athlete honors on the men’s side, while Samford’s Kimberly Ruch and Western Carolina’s Hailey Cook earned accolades on the women’s side, the league office announced Wednesday. Selections were made by a group of the league’s track and field coaches and included competition held April 27-May 3.
Kenard, a freshman for the Catamounts, won the 800-meter at the WCU Invitational with a personal-best time of 1:51.68. His time ranks third in the SoCon and is the top performance in the event by a freshman this year.
Williamson finished fifth in the javelin throw at the Penn Relays with a toss of 68.86 meters (225’ 11”). His SoCon-leading throw of 70.55 meters (231’ 5”), which he offered up in early April, still leads the league by more than 46 feet and ranks 26th nationally.
Ruch clocked a trio of top-three league times at the Jace LaCoste Mississippi State Invitational. The Samford senior registered a time of 11.95 seconds in the 100-meter dash and a mark of 14.14 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, good for fifth and eighth, respectively, at the meet. She added a personal-best time of 24.53 seconds in the 200-meter hurdles.
Cook continued her impressive outdoor season by breaking her own school record in the shot put at the WCU Invitational. Her effort of 15.41 meters (50’ 6.75”) earned second-place honors at the meet and leads the league by more than seven feet. The Catamount junior also recorded a mark of 49.42 meters (162’ 2”) in the hammer throw, which is her season-best.
SoCon track and field squads will travel to the campus of Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C., on May 12-13 to contest the 2016 SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
March 23 – Henry Kiedy, Western Carolina, So.
March 30 – Troy Reeder, Furman, Jr.
April 6 – Mike Williams, ETSU, Jr.
April 13 – Caleb Albrecht, Western Carolina, Fr.
April 20 – Henry Kiedy, Western Carolina, So.
April 27 – Mike Williams, ETSU, Jr.
May 4 – Justin Kenard, Western Carolina, Fr.
Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
March 23 – Capers Williamson, The Citadel, Gr.
March 30 – Javion Lee, Samford, Jr.
April 6 – Jamie Brown, Western Carolina, Fr.
April 13 – Capers Williamson, The Citadel, Gr.
April 20 – Tray Oates, Samford, R-So.
April 27 – Marquis Barnes, Samford, So.
May 4 – Capers Williamson, The Citadel, Gr.
Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
March 23 – LeAndrea Combo, Wofford, Fr.
March 30 – Allie Buchalski, Furman, Jr.
April 6 – Karisa Nelson, Samford, So.
April 13 – Sarah Sanford, Samford, So.
April 20 – Tayla Carter, Western Carolina, Sr.
April 27 – Allie Buchalski, Furman, Jr.
May 4 – Kimberly Ruch, Samford, Sr.
Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
March 23 – Ashley Kessler, ETSU, Sr.
March 30 – Kyra Atkins, ETSU, Fr.
April 6 – Hailey Cook, Western Carolina, Jr.
April 13 – Selena Popp, Samford, Fr.
April 20 – Tatiana Taylor, Samford, Fr.
April 27 – Ashley Kessler, ETSU, Sr.
May 4 – Hailey Cook, Western Carolina, Jr.
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