By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—After a solid showing at the Hilltopper Relays this past weekend, Tennessee Tech track and field's D'Airrien Jackson has been selected as the adidas® OVC Outdoor Female Track Athlete of the Week on April 12.
Jackson won the 400 meters at the Hilltopper Relays last week with a time of 55.38, which is second in the OVC this season. She ran a leg of the 4x400-meter relay that finished first with an OVC-leading time of 3:42.21. Jackson also placed 10th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.08. That mark ranks fifth in the league so far this season.
Jackson and the Golden Eagle track and field team return to action on Friday-Saturday at the Austin Peay Invitational in Clarksville, Tenn.
MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Quamel Prince, Sr., Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Sate
Prince earned a pair of first place finishes at the North Florida Invitational last week. He was first out of 40 competitors in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.77. He finished more than two seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. He also ran a leg of 4x400 meter relay that took first with an OVC-best time of 3:16.02.
Others nominated: Jamal Robinson, Eastern Illinois;
FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
D'Airrien Jackson, So., Santa Clara, Calif – Tennessee Tech
Jackson won the 400 meters at the Hilltopper Relays last week with a time of 55.38 which is second in the OVC this season. She ran a leg of the 4x100-meter relay that finished first with an OVC-leading time of 3:42.21. Jackson also placed 10th in the 200 meters with a time of 25.08. That mark ranks fifth in the league so far this season.
Other nominated: Nyjah Lane, Eastern Illinois; Jabruena Brimlett, Murray State; Amber Hughes, Tennessee State
MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Tequan Claitt, So, Lexington, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky
Claitt recorded the top high jump in the NCAA at the WKU's Hilltopper Relays to win the event. His jump of 7'05.75" is the top mark in America and is tied for No. 2 in the world. It also broke EKU's 35-year old school record in the event.
Other nominated: Stuart Landis, Belmont; Richard Vinson, Southeast Missouri; Alex Dutton, SIUE; Kyle Washington-Smith, Tennessee State
FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Amber Hughes, Sr., Atlanta, Ga. – Tennessee State
Hughes won the triple jump at the North Florida Invitational last week. Her mark of 44'08.25" is the best in the OVC this season and is second in the NCAA. The leap was also a personal record for Hughes.
Others nominated: Savannah Amato, Austin Peay; Karly Hibbard, Belmont; Haleigh Knapp, Eastern Illinois; Nichyria Bird, SIUE
Photo by Thomas Corhern
