SoCon announces ITF Athletes of the Week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Bradley Franklin and Jaggerd Moore have been named the Southern Conference men’s indoor track and field athletes of the week, respectively. Additionally, Samford’s Ayden Drake and ETSU’s Tya Blake claimed women’s track and field athlete of the week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Wednesday.  

Selections were made by panels of the league’s track and field coaches and included all competition from Feb. 12-18. 

Samford hosted the Bulldog Invite and Open on Feb. 14-15.  

Franklin won the 60m with a time of 6.82. He also competed in the 60m hurdles, claiming the top spot with a time of 7.84, finishing just over his top time this season.  

Moore claimed a victory in the high jump with a personal best mark of 2.14m. This mark leads the conference this season.  

Drake ran a personal best of 56.47 in the 400m, which leads the conference. Samford’s 4x400 relay squad, which Drake anchored, finished in 3:47.08 to lead the conference, also setting a new school record.  

On Feb. 15, Blake competed at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational hosted by Liberty. During the meet, Blake jumped a personal best of 11.92m in the triple jump, landing her second in the conference. Blake also competed in the long jump, recording a personal best of 5.45m.  

Samford and ETSU now look ahead to the 2025 SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 28-March 1 in Lexington, Virginia.  

Prior to the SoCon championships, Franklin will compete at the USA Indoor Championships to qualify for nationals in the sprint hurdles on Feb. 21-22.  

Also nominated (Men): Jared Campbell (Track – The Citadel), Dylan Schubert (Track – Furman), John Davis (Track – Western Carolina), Ridge Dowe (Field – The Citadel)  

Also nominated (Women): Alli Johnson (Track – The Citadel), Micailah Cook (Track – ETSU), Carly Wilkes (Track – Furman), Ryleigh Simmons (Track – Chattanooga), Emily Danielson (Field – The Citadel), Lindsey Havens (Field – Samford), Stella Henry (Field – Chattanooga)  

2024-25 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week   

Men’s track   

Dec. 11 Dylan Schubert, Furman 

Jan. 15 Zachary Denton, VMI 

Jan. 22 Bradley Franklin, Samford 

Jan. 29 Richard Edwards, VMI 

Feb. 5 Matthew Smith, Furman 

Feb. 12 Chris Knight, Furman  

Feb. 19 Bradley Franklin, Samford 

Women’s track  

Dec. 11 Kaylie Armitage, Furman 

Jan. 15 Naturale Faison, VMI   

Jan. 22 Megan Marvin, Furman 

Jan. 29 Eleyah Armstrong, VMI 

Feb. 5 Megan Marvin, Furman  

Feb. 12 Micailah Cook, ETSU 

Feb. 19 Ayden Drake, Samford 

Men’s field  

Dec. 11 No nominations 

Jan. 15 Cameron Thomas, VMI  

Jan. 22 Keyandre Midgett, VMI 

Jan. 29 Rafe Clendenin, VMI 

Feb. 5 Carter Ellis, Samford 

Feb. 12 Brenden Vanderpool, Samford 

Feb. 19 Jaggerd Moore, Samford 

Women’s field 

Dec. 11 No nominations 

Jan. 15 Morgan Fraser, VMI  

Jan. 22 Antonina Tereshchenko, Samford 

Jan. 29 Sherika Christie, Wofford  

Feb. 5 Lexie Durban, WCU  

Feb. 12 Sherika Christie, Wofford  

Feb. 19 Tya Blake, ETSU