SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel’s Malik Diggs and Samford’s Tray Oates have been named the Southern Conference men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, while Furman’s Allie Buchalski and Samford’s Maggie Johnston claimed honors on the women’s side, the conference office announced Wednesday. Selections are made by a group of the league’s track and field coaches and included competition held March 22-28.
Diggs ran a personal-best 55.28 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles at the Weems Baskins Invitational in Columbia, South Carolina, this past weekend. Among a competitive field of hurdlers, Diggs placed first in the fourth heat and notched a 14th-place overall finish. The senior's time of 55.28 seconds currently ranks fifth on the Southern Conference outdoor performance list.
Oates, a senior, won the pole vault title at the Samford Alabama Challenge in Birmingham, Alabama, with a best-leap of 17’-7” (5.36m). The Acworth, Georgia, native cleared the second-place finisher’s best mark by more than a foot. Oates, who garnered All-American status at this year’s NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship, currently holds the top jump in Southern Conference by more than six inches.
Buchalski won the 5,000-meter run at the Raleigh Relays last Friday after posting a collegiate leading time of 15:35.55, which is 30 seconds less than her previous Paladin record (16:08.10) in the event. In addition to shattering her own program record, the indoor All-American broke the Raleigh Relays’ meet record of 15:45.35, which was set in 2015. Buchalski, a junior in outdoor competition, currently owns the top time in the NCAA in the women’s 5,000-meter run by more than 30 seconds.
Johnston placed second overall in the discus throw at the Samford Alabama Track Challenge last Friday with a best throw of 158’-0” (48.17m). Johnston, a true freshman, currently leads the Southern Conference in the event with her performance Friday and ranks No. 30 on the East Regional Qualifying list.
Also nominated for women’s track athlete of the week: Kyrah Atkins (ETSU, 100mH) and Abigail Cutcliffe (Samford, 400m).
Also nominated for women’s field athlete of the week: Jessy Page (The Citadel, hammer throw).
SoCon Men’s Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
March 22: Matthew Moore (ETSU, 100m)
March 29: Malik Diggs (The Citadel, 400mH)
SoCon Men’s Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week
March 22: Brett Squibbs (ETSU, pole vault)
March 29: Tray Oates (Samford, pole vault)
SoCon Women’s Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
March 22: Kyrah Atkins (ETSU, 100mH)
March 29: Allie Buchalski (Furman, 5,000m)
SoCon Women’s Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week
March 22: Kyrah Atkins (ETSU, long jump)
March 29: Maggie Johnston (Samford, discus)
-www.SoConSports.com-