ODAC Athletes of the Week | Indoor Track & Field

ODAC Athletes of the Week | Indoor Track & Field

FOREST, Va. --- More records fell in the final tune-up prior to the ODAC Championships this coming weekend at Roanoke's Kerr-Cregger Field House. This season's performances have many excited not only for the upcoming championships, but also for the soon-to-begin outdoor campaign. Those earning ODAC weekly honors for Tuesday, February 22, include (pictured left and top): Tiffany McLaughlin from Hollins track & field, Joe O'Connor from Washington and Lee men's track & field, Xavier O'Brien from Roanoke men's track & field, and Aniya Seward from Lynchburg women's track & field.

Below are entries for each of the winners from today's release. As winter sports continue, spring sports will soon begin competition. Once those seasons start, the following schedule will be used for awards reporting:

  • Mondays: basketball, baseball, softball, m/w lacrosse, and m/w tennis
  • Tuesdays: indoor track & field, outdoor track & field
  • Wednesdays: m/w golf

For more on ODAC athletics, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

MEN'S INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Joe O'Connor | Washington and Lee | Sr. | Jumps
O'Connor, a senior from Henrico, Va., took the record he set last week in the pole vault and added bold typeface to his name by setting it against as part of his showing at the JDL DMR Invitational hosted by JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. O'Connor cleared 5.10 meters (16-8.75) to win the event and reset the ODAC and Washington and Lee records. That height is the highest of any clear pole vault mark in league history, indoors or outdoors. O'Connor also took to the high jump and placed third at 1.85 meters (6-0.75). That is the second-best mark in the ODAC and third time he has achieved it this season.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC MEN'S INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Xavier O'Brien | Roanoke | Sr. | Hurdles
O'Brien, a senior from Metuchen, N.J., put his name in the Roanoke record books following a strong showing at the Virginia Tech Challenge over the weekend. O'Brien competed in an otherwise all Division I athlete field in the 60-meter hurdles. He finished fifth in the prelims with a new school-record time of 8.34 seconds and then matched that mark in the finals to again place fifth. He ranks second in the event in the ODAC and 27th in NCAA Division III.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC MEN'S INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
WOMEN'S INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Tiffany McLaughlin | Hollins | Fy. | Jumps
McLaughlin, a first-year from Salem, Va., competed in a pair of jumps at the JDL DMR Invitational hosted by JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. McLaughlin tightened her grip on the top mark in the ODAC in the high jump as she finished second overall in a mixed field of Division I and III athletes. Her leap of 1.60 meters (5-3.00) is a new Hollins program record and is new inches higher than the next closest competitor in the conference. That clearance also ranks 50th in Division III. McLaughlin also competed in the long jump and finished 15th overall at 4.39 meters (14-5.00) to mark her collegiate-best in the event.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC WOMEN'S INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Aniya Seward | Lynchburg | So. | Hurdles/Jumps
Seward, a sophomore from Ebony, Va., put together a strong showing in both track and field events at the Virginia Tech Challenge. In a field largely composed of Division I competitors, Seward finished 11th overall in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.92 seconds. That is the second-fast mark in Lynchburg history and ranks #1 in the ODAC this season. It is also rated 17th in NCAA Division III. Seward also competed in the triple jump, where she finished eighth overall at 11.67 meters (38-3.50). That mark is just off her season-best leap of 11.69 meters, which is second in the ODAC and ranks 12th in the country.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK