SoCon announces Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
Week 3 delivers conference‑leading marks
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Bryce Davis, Aaliyah Mbenda, and JT Shaw have been named the Southern Conference men’s field, women’s track, and women’s field outdoor athletes of the week, respectively. Furman’s Albert Velikonja has been selected as the men’s outdoor track athlete of the week, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Velikonja set the conference-leading time in the 5,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays. He placed 17th out of more than 166 runners, finishing in 13:51.71. His performance also ranks 15th in the NCAA East region.
Davis won both the shot put (16.22m) and hammer throw (53.52m) at the UAB Invite. He now leads the SoCon in the shot put and ranks third in the hammer.
Mbenda ran a conference-leading 64.80 in the 400-meter hurdles to win the event in her first-ever appearance at the distance. She also posted a 13.52 in the 100-meter hurdles, another conference-leading mark.
Shaw claimed the women’s shot put and hammer throw titles at the UAB Invite, recording marks of 13.56m and 50.06m, respectively. Both performances currently lead the conference.
Samford will compete next at the Troy Invite on April 3-4, and Furman travels to the Duke Invitational on April 9-11.
Also nominated: Naomi Pierce, Mercer – Women's Field, Camryn Wennersten, Furman – Women's Track, Micailah Cook, ETSU – Women's Track, Cole Grande, Samford – Men’s Track
2025-26 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week
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March 18 |
Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Shaneil Lysight, WCU Women’s Field – Ellison Chadwick, Samford |
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March 25 |
Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Naturale Faison, VMI Women’s Field – Sadler Miller, WCU |
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April 1 |
Men's Track - Albert Velikonja, Furman Men's Field - Bryce Davis, Samford Women's Track - Aaliyah Mbenda, Samford Women's Field - JT Shaw, Samford |