BEST LIST
OVC Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week – April 12
MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Troy McKnight, R-So., Irving, Texas – Little Rock
Claiming his third and fourth gold medals of the season, Little Rock redshirt sophomore Troy McKnight won both the 100m and 200m dashes at the Little Rock Invitational by becoming the first OVC sprinter since Eastern Illinois’ Zye Boey to run a sub-10.4 time in the 100m and sub-21.0 time in the 200m in the same season, let alone the same day. McKnight first won the 100m dash with a league-leading time of 10.34, a mark tnhat ranks him 25th on the NCAA West Prelims performance list. No OVC runner has clocked a faster 100m dash time since Boey ran 10.15 in the 2012 NCAA West Prelims. McKnight then came back in the 200m and raced to another gold medal finish with a time of 20.98, the fastest by an OVC sprinter since Boey ran 20.34, also at the 2012 NCAA West Prelims. McKnight currently ranks 39th on the NCAA West Prelims performance list in the 200m while also being a member of Little Rock’s 4x100m relay squad that ranks 10th on the West Prelims charts.
Others Nominated: Cameron Yabrough, Eastern Illinois; Konrad Sacha, SIUE; Thurman McMullen, Tennessee State; Sam Shuman, UT Martin
FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Akiya Kollore, Jr, St. Louis, Mo. – Eastern Illinois
Kollore earned a pair of top five finishes at the Fighting Illini Challenge last week. She finished second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.43. That time is first in the OVC this year and also ranks 16th in the NCAA West Region. She was also a part of the 4x400-meter relay team that finished second with a league-leading time of 3:51.01.
Other nominated: Landri Schreier, Little Rock; Natalia Rodriguez, SIUE; Audrey Comastri, Southern Indiana; Rahab Sawe, Tennessee Tech
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Keandric Verge, Jr., Watertown, Tenn. – Tennessee State
Verge earned a pair of top five finishes at Georgia’s Spec. Towns & Torrin Lawrence Invitaional. HE finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 50-03.5 which is tops in the league this season. He also placed third in the long jump with a mark of 23-03.25.
Others nominated: Bradley Olysav, Eastern Illinois; DeShawn Roberts, Little Rock; Darius Holland, UT Martin
CO-FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Gabby Ayiteyfio, So., Richmond, Texas – Little Rock.
Ayiteyfio claimed silver in the high jump last weekend at the Little Rock Invitational, clearing 1.65m, while also placing in the top five in two running events. Setting a new career-best mark, Ayiteyfio cleared 1.65 (5-5) in the high jump while also running on the 4x100m relay that won gold with the fifth-fastest time in school history (45.98). Soon thereafter, Ayiteyfio sprinted to a personal-best 24.95 in the 200m to finish fourth.
Alexis Hutchins, Jr., Harvey, Ill. – SIUE
Hutchins placed fifth in the shot put at the Fighting Illini Challenge last week. Her mark of 46-11 is first in the league this season. She also placed 12
th in the hammer throw with a toss of 153-08.
Others nominated: Danielle Scaduto, Eastern Illinois; Kendall Medders, Tennessee Tech
MALE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Thurman McMullen, Fr., Miami, Fla – Tennessee State
McMullan took first in the 110-meter hurdles at Georgia’s Spec. Towns & Torrin Lawerence Invitational last week. His time of 14.31 currently ranks first in the OVC this year.
Others nominated: Aiden Gonzalez, Eastern Illinois; DeShawn Roberts, Little Rock; Konrad Sacha, SIUE
FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Harper Smith, Fr., Edwards, Ill. – SIUE
Smith placed 10th in the high jump at the Fighting Illini Challenge last week. Here mark of 5-3 is second in the OVC this season.
Others nominated: Kathryn Cichon, Eastern Illinois; Takia Palmer, Little Rock; Emily Rempe, Southern Indiana; Sidnee Stanton, Tennessee Tech
2023 OVC Athletes of the Week
Male Track Athletes of the Week
March 22 – Troy McKnight, Little Rock; Chris Johnson, Southeast Missouri
March 29 – TaVieon Neal, Little Rock
April 5 – Noah Hufnagel, Southern Indiana
April 12 – Troy McKnight, Little Rock
Female Track Athletes of the Week
March 22 – Breanna Miles, Southeast Missouri; McKenna Cavanaugh, Southern Indiana
March 29 – Breanna Miles, Southeast Missouri
April 5 – Madelyn Gray, Southeast Missouri
April 12 – Akiya Kollore, Eastern Illinois
Male Field Athletes of the Week
March 22 – Desmond Frazier, Little Rock; Parker Feurborn, Southeast Missouri
March 29 – Luke Hatfield-Jackson, Southeast Missouri
April 5 – Ramsey Hunt, Eastern Illinois
Female Field Athletes of the Week
March 22 – Bria Allen, Little Rock; Jaden Kight, Southeast Missouri
March 29 – Makenzie Williams, Southeast Missouri
April 5 – Makenzie Williams, Southeast Missouri; Alexis Hutchins, SIUE
April 12 – Gabby Ayiteyfio, Little Rock: Alexis Hutchins, SIUE
Male Freshman of the Week
March 22 – Chris Johnson, Southeast Missouri
March 29 – Hayden Wilson, Little Rock
April 5 – Hugo Vazquez, Lindenwood
April 12 – Thurman McMullen, Tennessee State
Female Freshman of the Week
March 22 – Clara Billing, Southeast Missouri
March 29 – Takia Palmer, Little Rock
April 5 – Clara Billing, Southeast Missouri
April 12 – Harper Smith, SIUE