adidas® OVC Track & Field Athletes of the Week – April 2
Co-MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jesse Moreno, So., Riverside, Ohio – Morehead State
Moreno set a new school record in the 5,000 meters, turning in a personal best time of 14:42.72 at the Raleigh Relays. He topped 35 other competitors in his heat. It marked the second team in as many weeks that Moreno set a school record as he broke the 3,000-meter run mark earlier this season. His 5,000 meter time ranks first in the OVC so far this season.
Joe Calio, R-So., Mattoon, Ill. – Eastern Illinois
Calio placed first in the men’s steeplechase at the season opening SIU Bill Cornell Classic last weekend. Calio won the event with a time of 9:18.90. His time currently ranks 1
st in the OVC and 42
nd in the nation.
Others nominated: Erick Kigen, Belmont; Marc Maton, Southeast Missouri; Braxton Klavins, SIUE
Co-FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Karina Manz, Fr., Hardt, Germany – Morehead State
Manz ran the top 5,000 meter time in the OVC so far this season with a personal-best 17:15.62 at the Raleigh Relays. She defeated 28 other competitors in her heat.
Ann Eason, Jr., Lexington, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky
Eason won the 1,500 meters at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational. She defeated a field of 20 competitors with an OVC-best time of 4:33.01. Her time is first in the OVC this year and 51
st in the East Region.
Other nominated: Myiah Johnson, Austin Peay; Hannah Wittman, Belmont; Amina Jackson, Eastern Illinois; Hannah McAllister, Murray State; Cheyenne Tunti, Southeast Missouri; Jessica Oranika, SIUE; Rebecca Cline, Tennessee Tech
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mick Viken, R-Sr., Arlington Heights, Ill. – Eastern Illinois
Viken placed fourth in the pole vault at the Texas Relays as he cleared 18’00.50” He became the first EIU athlete to ever clear 18’ in the pole vault. His mark currently ranks first in the OVC and third in the nation.
Others nominated: Austin Landis, Belmont; Brian Grote, Southeast Missouri; Julian Harvey, SIUE
FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Tonia Pratt, Jr., Michigan Center, Mich. – Murray State
Pratt finished third in the hammer throw (184’06”) and shot put (49’03”) while also taking sixth in the discus (129’10.5”) at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitational. Her hammer throw mark set a new school record and ranks first in the OVC and 47
th nationally this season. Her shot put distance is second in the league while her discus mark is eighth.
Others nominated: Amia Butler, Austin Peay; Josie Hardin, Belmont; Kailey James, Eastern Illinois; Brittany Pfeiffer, Southeast Missouri
This Weeks Schedule
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
EIU Big Blue Classic (Charleston, Ill.)
Eastern Illinois
Pepsi Florida Relays (Gainesville, Fla.)
Tennessee State
FRIDAY, APRIL 4
Margaret Simmons Invitational (Murray, Ky.)
Austin Peay
Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Stanford Distance Carnival (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Belmont
Eastern Kentucky
EIU Big Blue Classic (Charleston, Ill.)
Eastern Illinois
Bellarmine Invitational (Louisville, Ky.)
Eastern Kentucky
Morehead State
Vertklasse Meeting (High Point, N.C.)
Jacksonville State
Joey Haines Invitational (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Southeast Missouri
Pepsi Florida Relays (Gainesville, Fla.)
SIUE
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
Stanford Distance Carnival (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Belmont
EIU Big Blue Classic (Charleston, Ill.)
Eastern Illinois
Vertklasse Meeting (High Point, N.C.)
Jacksonville State
Bellarmine Invitational (Louisville, Ky.)
Morehead State
Joey Haines Invitational (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Southeast Missouri
Pepsi Florida Relays (Gainesville, Fla.)
SIUE
2014 adidas® OVC Athletes of the Week
Male Track Athletes of the Week
March 26 – Marcus Bridger-Wilkinson, Belmont
April 2 – Joe Cailo, Eastern Illinois; Jesse Moreno, Morehead State
Female Track Athletes of the Week
March 26 – Erika Stam, Jacksonville State; Amber Hughes, Tennessee State
April 2 – Ann Eason, Eastern Kentucky; Karina Manz, Morehead State
Male Field Athletes of the Week
March 26 – Chris Navarro, Southeast Missouri
April 2 – Mick Viken, Eastern Illinois
Female Field Athletes of the Week
March 26 – Elizabeth Hampl, SIUE; Clairwin Dameus, Tennessee State
April 2 – Tonia Pratt, Murray State