SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Ben Varghese and Wofford’s Longinus Nnodim have been named the Southern Conference men’s indoor track and field athletes of the week, respectively, while Samford’s Karisa Nelson and Jackie Barnes claimed the honors on the women’s side, the conference office announced Thursday.

Selections were made by panels of the league’s track and field coaches and included competition held Jan. 11-12.

ETSU’s Varghese took first place in the 3,000-meter run at the ETSU Track and Field Invitational on Saturday, turning in a personal-best time of 8:16.53 for a more than 23-second margin of victory. The sophomore from Kingsport, Tennessee, who was named the General Shale SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week on Wednesday, is 25th on the NCAA Division I performance list in the event.

Wofford’s Nnodim also competed at the ETSU Track and Field Invitational over the weekend, winning the weight throw with a mark of 16.55 meters (54 feet, 3 3/4 inches) on Friday and finishing sixth in the shot put with a heave of 13.28 meters (43 feet, 7 inches) on Saturday. The senior from Greenville, South Carolina, leads the SoCon in the weight throw by 1.4 meters (4 feet, 7 1/4 inches) and is second in the league in the shot.

Samford’s Nelson won the 3,000-meter run at the UAB Blazer Invitational on Friday, cruising to the win in 9:22.32, nearly 20 second ahead of runner-up Emily Drouin of UAB (9:42.26). The Brewton, Alabama, senior and 2017 NCAA champion in the mile leads the SoCon in the 3,000m by more than 34 seconds and is fourth on the NCAA Division I performance list in the event so far this season.

In her inaugural competition in a Bulldog uniform, Samford’s Barnes finished eighth in the pole vault at the UAB Blazer Invitational on Friday. The sophomore West Virginia transfer from Beaufort, South Carolina, cleared a height of 3.65 meters (11 feet, 11 3/4 inches), which is the top mark in the SoCon on the young season. Her mark was 0.15 meters (6 inches) higher than that of the next competitor, teammate Tally Wilson.

Also nominated for men’s track athlete of the week: Emmanuel Tait (Samford).

Also nominated for men’s field athlete of the week: Justin Stuckey (Samford).

2018-19 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week
Men’s track
Jan. 17 Ben Varghese, ETSU

Men’s field
Jan. 17 Longinus Nnodim, Wofford

Women’s track
Jan. 17 Karisa Nelson, Samford

Women’s field
Jan. 17 Jackie Barnes, Samford

-www.SoConSports.com-