2018-19 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

  • Calista Ariel, Bridgewater, Jr., Distance
    April 15, 2019
    Ariel, a junior from Fredericksburg, Va., continued her stellar 2018-19 athletic year with a strong performance at the Bison Outdoor Classic hosted by Bucknell University. Ariel placed 16th and fifth among Division III in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, posting an ODAC season-best time of 11:10.11. That time ranks seventh in Division III and is less than 13-seconds from the ODAC record-time of 10:57.34 posted by former Shenandoah standout Amy Smith in 2012.
  • Jamie Hiegel, Bridgewater, Sr., Distance
    April 15, 2019
    Hiegel, a senior from Richmond, Va., nearly set a new ODAC record at the Bison Outdoor Classic hosted by Bucknell University. Hiegel placed eighth overall in the 10,000-meter run at the large NCAA Division I meet. He posted a time of 30:07.63, which tops the ODAC chart by more than four minutes and ranked fifth in Division III. Hiegel's time just missed the ODAC record in the event, set by former Lynchburg All-American Ricky Flynn in 2010 a 30:03.39.
  • Zoe Scales, Lynchburg, Fy., Jumps/Hurdles
    April 15, 2019
    Scales, a first-year from Danville, Va., competed twice and won both events at the WildCat Invitational hosted by Randolph College, site of this weekend's ODAC Championships. Scales won the triple jump with a leap of 10.90 meters (35-9.25), which sits second in the ODAC. She also took a turn on the track in the 100-meter hurdles. She won that event at 0:15.12, which is also second on the conference and ranks 47th in NCAA Division III.
  • Joe O'Connor, Washington and Lee, Fy., Jumps/Hurdles
    April 15, 2019
    O'Connor, a first-year from Henrico, Va., continued an impressive start to his collegiate career with another strong showing at the WildCat Invitational hosted by Randolph College, the host of this weekend's ODAC Championships. O'Connor improved upon his ODAC top mark in the pole vault, eclipsing 4.63 meters (15-2.25) to win the event. That height is ranked 25th in NCAA Division III. O'Connor also competed in the high jump and 110-meter hurdles. He finished second in the high jump at 1.86 meters (6-1.25) and third in the 110-hurdles at 0:15.44.
  • Emily Valle, Bridgewater, Jr., Hurdles/Sprints
    April 08, 2019
    Valle, a junior from Chesapeake, Va., is putting together an impressive all-around spring season with the ODAC championships less than two weeks away. Valle competed in a pair of events at the Phoenix Invitational hosted by Elon University. She won the 400-meters hurdles with a time of 102.18. Not only is that the top time in the ODAC, but it stands #1 in NCAA Division III. Valle also ran a leg of the Eagles 4x400-meter relay, which finished fifth at 4:05.84. That time is second in the ODAC. In addition to the 400-meter hurdles, Valle currently leads the ODAC in the 100-meter dash (12.50), 100-meter hurdles (14.80), and long jump (5.61m | 18-5.00).
  • Tristan Lucy-Speidel, Lynchburg, Sr., Mid-Distance/Hurdles
    April 08, 2019
    Lucy-Speidel, a senior from Fort Valley, Va., put together an impressive performance in two events at the Colonial Relays hosted by the College of William & Mary. Lucy-Speidel set a new program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as he finished second overall at 9:19.35. That time is tops in the ODAC and ranks 14th in NCAA Division III. Lucy-Speidel also participated in the distance medley relay. Lynchburg finished 11th overall at 10:26.21.
  • Jennifer Calascione, Roanoke, Sr., Throws
    April 08, 2019
    Calascione, a senior from Parker, Colo., competed in a pair of throwing events and registered top ODAC marks in each at the Phoenix Invitational. Calascione improved her ODAC-leading discus mark to 41.62 meters (136-6.00). She now ranks 22nd in NCAA Division III in the event. In addition to placing eighth in the discus, Calascione chimed in ninth in the shot put. Her heave of 12.12 meters (39-9.25) is second in the ODAC only to her previous season-best distance of 12.20 meters (40-0.50) set three weeks ago at the VertKlasse Meeting hosted by High Point University.
  • Grant Amoateng, Eastern Mennonite, Sr., Jumps
    April 08, 2019
    Amoateng, a senior from Bristow, Va., put together two strong performances in the jumps at the Legacy Invitational hosted by Eastern Mennonite. It is the first meet hosted by EMU since 2008. Amoateng strengthened his grip on the top spot in the ODAC in the triple jump as he won the event at 14.34 meters (47-4.25). That mark ranks eighth in NCAA Division III. Amoateng also won the long jump at 6.70 meters (21-11.75), a mark that is just outside the ODAC top-five.
  • Maggie Seybold, Washington and Lee, Sr.
    April 01, 2019
    Seybold, a senior fro Cockeysville, Md., put together a pair of season-best performances in two mid-distance races at the Fred Hardy Invitational hosted by the University of Richmond. Seybold was the top non-Division I runner in the 1,500-meter run with a career-best time of 4:38.23. It is the fastest time in the ODAC this year and the eighth-best in NCAA Division III. It also marked the third-fastest time in W&L history. In the 800-meter run, Seybold was the fifth-best non-Division I runner in the race at 2:18.51. It marked the fastest time she has run this season and is the quickest time in the conference this year. It also slots 35th in the country.
  • Donovan Fiore, Washington and Lee, Jr., Sprints
    April 01, 2019
    Fiore, a junior from Gilbert, Ariz., had a busy and successful day in pacing the Generals at the Fred Hardy Invitational hosted by the University of Richmond. Fiore had the third-fastest time in the 400-meter dash among non-Division I runners with a time of 0:49.34. That tie is the fastest in the ODAC this spring and ranks 27th in NCAA Division III. In the 200-meter dash, Fiore finished fifth in 0:22.42. He also registered a career-best in the 100-meter dash at 0:11.16. Fiore was the anchor on the 4x400-meter relay that took fifth in 3:23.67, which is the fastest time in the league and 25th in the country.
  • Emily Valle, Bridgewater, Jr., Jumps/Sprints
    April 01, 2019
    Valle, a junior from Chesapeake, Va., continued her torrid pace during both the indoor and outdoor seasons following a strong showing at the Doc Jopson Invitational hosted by Bridgewater College. Valle took over the ODAC's #1 spot in the long jump after winning the event at 5.61 meters (18-5.00). That mark is ranked fifth in NCAA Division III. Valle also helped Bridgewater win the 4x100-meter relay with an ODAC top time of 0:48.91. That time is slotted 18th in the country.
  • Dirk Jones, Bridgewater, So., Jumps/Sprints
    April 01, 2019
    Jones, sophomore from Fredericksburg, Va., turned in a stellar all-around performance at the Doc Jopson Invitational hosted by Bridgewater College. Jones won the long jump competition and took over the #1 position in the ODAC in the event with a leap of 7.10 meters (23-3.50). That mark is also #3 in NCAA Division III. Jones also participated in a pair of track events. He took third in the 100-meter dash in 0:11.07, although his preliminary time of 0:10.94 is tied for fourth in the ODAC and 32nd in the country. He ran a leg of the second place 4x100-meter relay team, which chimed in at 0:42.66. That is second in the ODAC and 34th in Division III.
  • Jessica Cammarata, Lynchburg, Fy., Sprints
    March 25, 2019
    Cammarata, a first-year from Ledgewood, N.J., was stellar at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational as she won a pair of individual sprints and helped her teammates to two more wins in relays. Cammarata won the 400-meter dash in 0:58.44, which stands atop the ODAC chart and ranks 10th in NCAA Division III. She added a win in the 200-meter dash in 0:26.00, which is also #1 in the ODAC and 23rd in the country. Cammarata also legs of the winning 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relay teams, which posted times of 0:50.26 and 4:12.80, respectively.
  • Reid Sharkey, Lynchburg, Jr., Mid-Distance
    March 25, 2019
    Sharkey, a junior from Fairfax, Va., put together a pair of top-35 NCAA performances at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational hosted by the University of Lynchburg. Sharkey finished second overall and first among collegiate competitors in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.47. That sits third in the ODAC and 34th in NCAA Division III. Sharkey was even better in the 1,500-meter run, winning the event with an ODAC top-time of 3:56.02. That mark is the only sub-4:00 time in the ODAC and ranks seventh in the country.
  • Rachel Murray, Lynchburg, Sr., Throws
    March 25, 2019
    Murray, a senior from Chesapeake, Va, competed in three throw events at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational and posted ODAC top-10 performances in each. Murray's best effort came in the javelin as she set a new career-best mark with a heave of 39.49 meters (129-7.00) to place second overall and first among Division III competitors. That mark not only tops the ODAC but ranks 12th in NCAA Division III. Her throw is 7.2 meters (23-0.00) longer than the next closest conference competitor. Murray also finished seventh in both the discus and hammer throw at 32.80 meters (107-7.00) and 37.93 meters (124-5.00), respectively.
  • Joe O'Connor, Washington and Lee, Fy., Jumps/Hurdles
    March 25, 2019
    O'Connor, a first-year from Henrico, Va., picks up his second straight weekly award after performing well in three events at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational hosted by the University of Lynchburg. O'Connor furthered his grip on #1 in the ODAC in the pole vault as he cleared 4.57 meters (15-0.00) to win the event. That mark is ranked seventh in NCAA Division III and is 0.57 meters (1-10.50) higher than the conference's second-best athlete. O'Connor also competed in the high jump, clearing 1.78 meters (5-10.00) to place seventh, and took a turn in the 110-meter hurdles. He posted a time of 15.57 seconds to place second.
  • Emily Valle, Bridgewater, Jr., Hurdles/Sprints
    March 18, 2019
    Valle, a junior from Chesapeake, Va., blistered thru two races at the W&L Carnival on the way to pair of nationally ranked top-10 times. Valle won the 100-meter hurdles with a of 0:14.80, which not only tops the ODAC but currently stands at the #1 ranked time in NCAA Division III. That time is also 0.10-seconds shy of tying the ODAC overall record. Valle added a victory in the 100-meter dash with a time of 0:12.50, which is tied for 10th in the country.
  • Kevin Moran, Lynchburg, Jr., Hurdles
    March 18, 2019
    Moran, a junior from Milford, N.J., competed in four events at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational and posted a pair of individual nationally top-10 ranked times in the hurdle events. Moran finished seventh in the 400-meter hurdles at 0:054.78, furthering his hold on the eighth-fastest time in school history. That mark currently ranks fifth in NCAA Division III. Moran added a 13th-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles in 0:15.40, which is tied for eighth in the country. He also competed in a pair of relays, helping his teammates to 11th in both the 4x200-meter and 4x400-meter relays in 1:32.66 and 3:29.94, respectively.
  • Maddie Van Aken, Lynchburg, Sr., Pole Vault/Jumps
    March 18, 2019
    Van Aken, a senior from Blacksburg, Va., continues to rewrite Lynchburg's record books in the pole vault as she again put her name next to a new standard following competition at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational. Van Aken won the pole vault by clearing 3.65 meters (11-11.75), setting a new Lynchburg outdoor record and matching her benchmark from the indoor season. Her outdoor mark is currently tied for second in NCAA Division III. Van Aken also finished fourth in the triple jump at 11.05 meters (36-3.00), which is ninth in the country.
  • Joe O'Connor, Washington and Lee, Fy., Jumps
    March 18, 2019
    O'Connor, a first-year from Henrico, Va., put together a strong day at the W&L Carnival over the weekend. O'Connor finished second in the pole vault and tied for sixth in the high jump, propelling himself to the top if the ODAC standings in both events. He cleared 4.42 meters (14-6.00) in the pole vault, which is tied for ninth in NCAA Division III. He along with two other ODAC competitors (Philemon Afrifa-Boakye from EMU and Rashon Davis from BC) cleared 1.89 meters (6-2.25) at the W&L Carnival. That mark is tied for 19th in the country.
  • LaMaya Lacy, Lynchburg, Fy., Hurdles/Jumps
    March 11, 2019
    Lacy, a sophomore from Bremo Bluff, Va., opened the 2019 outdoor season by competing in track and field events at the Wendy's Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC-Wilmington. Lacy placed third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 0:15.54. That mark is fourth-fastest in Lynchburg history and would have ranked fourth in the ODAC last season. Lacy also competed in a pair of jumps, finishing sixth in the triple jump at 10.45 meters (34-3.50) and 14th in the long jump at 4.12 meters (13-6.25). 
  • Alex Shadkhoo, Lynchburg, Fy., Sprints
    March 11, 2019
    Shadkhoo, a first-year from Herndon, Va., opened the outdoor season with a pair of strong runs at the Wendy's Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC-Wilmington. Shadkhoo posted the 10th-fastest 100-meter dash in program history with a spring of 0:10.91 to finish fourth overall. He then posted a time of 0:21.97 to place sixth in the 200-meter dash. That time would have been a top-five ODAC mark a season ago.
  • Rachel Murray, Lynchburg, Sr., Throws
    March 11, 2019
    Murray, a senior from Chesapeake, Va., competed in three throwing events at the outdoor season-opening Wendy's Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC-Wilmington. Murray won the javelin at 36.94 meters (121-2.00). She added a fourth place showing in the hammer throw at 40.04 meters (131-4.00), and placed fifth in the discus at 34.86 meters (114-4.00). Her discus mark is the ninth longest throw all-time at Lynchburg. Each of Murray's throws this weekend would have been top-five in 2018. Her discus and javelin marks would have been second-best a season ago.
  • Dalton Hoppe, Lynchburg, Sr., Throws
    March 11, 2019
    Hoppe, a senior from Buchanan, Va., competed in three throwing events as he opened his outdoor season at the Wendy's Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC-Wilmington. Hoppe finished third in the hammer throw at 46.09 meters (151-2.00), fourth in the javelin at 47.44 meters (155-8.00), and sixth in the discus at 36.45 meters (119-7.00). Hoppe's hammer and javelin marks would have been top-five in the ODAC last season