COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech freshman sprinter D'Airrien Jackson has grabbed the attention of the track & field world with her spectacular, school-record 400m performance last weekend at the Vanderbilt Black & Gold Invitational. Her time of 52.64 seconds not only smashed the school record, it is currently the ninth-fastest time in the nation and third-best by a freshman,

On Wednesday, the Ohio Valley Conference gacve an approving nod to her effort, selecting her as the adidas Co-Female Track Athlete of the Week. Her time ranks first in the OVC this season, and was just shy of the Olympic Trials Qualifying standard of 52.30.

A rookie from Santa Clara, Calif., Jackson also helped Tech set a school record over the weekend by running the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay.

Jackson becomes the second Golden Eagle freshman and third Tech runner this season to garner OVC Track Athlete of the Week honors. Freshman Na'Asha Robinson earned the honor on Jan. 20, while junior Sarah Brandt was recognized on Feb.10, both during the indoor season.

MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ambrose Maritim, Jr., Eldoret, Kenya – Eastern Kentucky
Maritim finished 19th out of 101 competitors in the 5,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays. His time of 14:09.19 is currently the ninth fastest time in the country and ranks first in the OVC this season.
Others nominated: Ben Weisel, Belmont; Riley McInerney, Eastern Illinois; Justin Agustin, SIUE; Quamel Prince, Tennessee State

CO-FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Hannah Wittman, Sr., Lindenhurst, Ill. – Belmont
Wittman finished second in a field of 100 in the 5,000 meters at the Raleigh Relays. Her time of 16:13.06 broke a school record and is the fastest in the OVC this year. It also ranks second in the nation.
 
D’Airrien Jackson, Fr., Santa Clara, Calif. – Tennessee Tech
Jackson took first in the 400-meters at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitational. She posted a school-record time of 52.64. The mark is first in the OVC this season and is also seventh in the nation. Jackson was also part of the 4x100-meter relay team that finished seventh at the meet.
Other nominated: Kymmalett Ross, Anita Saffa, Eastern Illinois; Ashley Svec, Eastern Kentucky; Whitley Towns, Jacksonville State; Tamdra Lawrence, Murray State; Jessica Oranika, SIUE; Amber Hughes, Tennessee State
 
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Julien Harvey, Jr., Edwardsville, Ill. – SIUE
Harvey earned a pair of first place finishes at the Arkansas Spring Invitational. He took first in the high-jump with a leap of 7’1 to set a new school record. The mark also ranks first in the OVC this year. He also won the long jump with a distance of 25’11.50”. The leap ranks first in the conference and the nation this season.
Other nominated: Del McSpadden, Belmont; Kevin Farely, Southeast Missouri; Kyle Washington-Scott, Tennessee State

FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Clairwin Dameus, Sr., Boynton Beach, Fla. – Tennessee State
Dameus took first in the long jump at the Black and Gold Invitational. Her distance of 20’3 is first in the OVC this year and ranks 12th in the nation. She also placed eighth in the javelin with a personal record of 127’1 which ranks third in the OVC this year.
Others nominated: Kaley Hibbard, Belmont; Haleigh Knapp, Eastern Illinois; Courtney Bennett, Jacksonville State; Jill Jachino, Murray State; Taylor Coffelt, Southeast Missouri; Brittney Gibbs, SIUE