SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman's Troy Reeder and The Citadel's Derrick Freeland have been named the Southern Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, while Samford's Karisa Nelson claimed honors on the women's side, the conference office announced Thursday. Selections are made by a group of the league's track and field coaches and included competition held May 3-9.
Reeder competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase last Friday at the Payton Jordan in Stanford, California. The senior posted a time of 8:47.58 to take eighth place in his heat, which was comprised of just three collegiate athletes and seven professional runners. His time was 13th overall between the two heats. Reeder leads the SoCon in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by more than 20 seconds.
Freeland captured first place in the hammer throw with a toss of 56.90 meters (172-1) at The Citadel's Dual Meet with Charleston Southern last week to improve to the No. 2 spot on The Citadel's all-time list. With his throw at the dual meet in Charleston, South Carolina, Freeland currently ranks third in the even on the SoCon performance list. Freeland also had a first-place finish in the discus with a heave of 46.96 meters (154-1), the sixth-best toss in program history. With his performance in the discus last week, Freeland ranks fifth on the SoCon leaderboard this season.
Nelson registered the fastest collegiate time in the nation in the 1500-meter run at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford, California, last week. Nelson, a junior, turned in a time of 4:10.91 at the world-renown meet, which annually produces a collection of world-, U.S.-, and collegiate-leading times. Nelson, who became Samford's first athlete in Division I history to win an NCAA Championship in January, competed against eight professional runners in Friday's race. She placed second overall in the event behind just Karoline Bjerkeli of Norway with a time of 4:10.74.
Also nominated for women's track athlete of the week: Keisha Goode (VMI, 100m, 200m).
SoCon Men's Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
March 22: Matthew Moore (ETSU, 100m)
March 29: Malik Diggs (The Citadel, 400mH)
April 5: Brandon Hazouri (Samford, 800m)
April 12: Ryan Adams (Furman, 800m)
April 19: Emmanuel Tait (Samford, 100m and 100mH)
April 27: Greg Henderson (VMI, 100m and 200m)
May 4: Keion Crossen (Western Carolina, 100m and 4x400m)
May 10: Troy Reeder (Furman, 3,000m steeplechase)
SoCon Men's Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week
March 22: Brett Squibbs (ETSU, pole vault)
March 29: Tray Oates (Samford, pole vault)
April 5: Scott Peretin (Western Carolina, hammer throw)
April 12: Kevin Hires (Western Carolina, long jump and triple jump)
April 19: Scott Peretin (Western Carolina, shot put, hammer throw and discus)
April 27: Jaylan Reid (Furman, shot put)
May 4: Matiues Brown (Western Carolina, shot put)
May 10: Derrick Freeland (The Citadel, hammer throw, discus)
SoCon Women's Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
March 22: Kyrah Atkins (ETSU, 100mH)
March 29: Allie Buchalski (Furman, 5,000m)
April 5: Katrina Seymour (ETSU, 400mH)
April 12: Gabrielle Jennings (Furman, 1,500m)
April 19: Tonia McKinley (Samford, 100m and 200m)
April 27: Karisa Nelson (Samford, 1,500m)
May 4: Katrina Seymour (ETSU, 400m, 400mH and 4x400m)
May 10: Karisa Nelson (Samford, 1,500m)
SoCon Women's Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week
March 22: Kyrah Atkins (ETSU, long jump)
March 29: Maggie Johnston (Samford, discus)
April 5: Hailey Cook (Western Carolina, shot put, hammer and discus)
April 12: Tiffani Lewis (Western Carolina, long jump and triple jump)
April 19: Selena Popp (Samford, heptathlon)
April 27: Maggie Johnston (Samford, discus throw)
May 4: Hailey Cook (Western Carolina, shot put, hammer and discus)
May 10: None
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