2016-17 Indoor Track Athletes of the Week

  • Amber Celen, Bridgewater, Jr., Sprints/Jumps
    February 20, 2017
    Celen, a junior from Townsend, Del., put together arguably the greatest single-meet performance in conference history on Saturday at the UCS Invitational at JDL Fast Track. Celen set not just one but two ODAC records in the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes, further strengthening her grasp on the #1 position in NCAA Division III in the 60-dash and taking over the top spot in the 200-dash. She won the 200-dash with at ime of 0:24.56 and placed third overall in 60-dash at 0:07.63, but it was her prelim time of 0:07.60 that put her atop the national ranks. Both her final and prelim times would have broken her previous ODAC record (0:07.69). Celen also competed in the long jump, finishing second overall and first collegiately at 5.72 meters (18' 9.25"), which is second in the ODAC only to her previous season-best mark (5.82m).
  • Oksana Kittrell, Eastern Mennonite, Jr., Jumps
    February 20, 2017
    Kittrell, a junior from Bedford, Va., put together a pair of ODAC top-five jumps at the UCS Invitational this weekend. Kittrell moved into second place in the ODAC in the triple jump after bounding 10.76 meters (35' 3.75") to finish third overall and first among NCAA Division III competition. She also reached 4.94 meters (16' 2.5") in the long jump, finishing 12th overall and third D-III. The 4.94 meters is just short of her already ODAC fourth-rated mark this season.
  • Alec Thibodeaux, Eastern Mennonite, Sr., Distance
    February 20, 2017
    Thibodeaux, a senior from Mount Sidney, Va., posted a blistering time in the 3,000-meter run at the UCS Invitational. Thibodeaux won the event with a time of 8:32.62, breaking his own school-record and taking over the top spot in the ODAC by nearly eight-seconds. The mark is 11-seconds quicker than his previous personal-best and currently ranks 30th in NCAA Division III.
  • Evan Griffey, Lynchburg, Jr., Throws
    February 20, 2017
    Griffey, a junior from Mechanicsville, Va., improved his stock in the shot put at the Virginia Tech Challenge over the weekend. Griffey tossed the shot 13.74 meters (45' 1.0") to finish fourth overall and first among NCAA Division III competitors. He is now ranked fourth in the ODAC heading into this coming weekend's championships.
  • Natalie Deacon, Lynchburg, Sr., Mid-Distance
    February 13, 2017
    Deacon, a senior from West Chester, Pa., continued her strong season moving over from the Hornets soccer ranks to becoming an indoor track standout. She took over the #1 spot in the ODAC in the 800-meter run following her performance at the Finn Pincus Invitational. Her time of 2:15.73 won the race and places her more than three seconds ahead of the next fastest league competitor this season. Deacon's time is currently 11th in NCAA Division III.
  • Danyelle McGrady, Shenandoah, Sr., Throws
    February 13, 2017
    McGrady, a senior from Luray, Va., picks up her third field athlete award of the season after a strong showing in the throws at the Finn Pincus Invitational. McGrady won the weight throw with a school-record toss of 16.02 meters (52' 6.75"), further strengthening her hold on the #1 position in the ODAC seasonal ranks. She is currently 0.16 meters from tying the ODAC record. Her throw of 16.02 meters is ranked 26th in NCAA Division III. McGrady also threw the shot put, posting a mark of 10.87 meters (35' 8.0") to finish seventh overall and move into fourth on the ODAC season chart.
  • DJ Petty, Randolph, So., Hurdles/Sprints
    February 13, 2017
    Petty, a sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va., picks up his second weekly honor after strong showings in a pair of events at the Finn Pincus Invitational. Petty twice took over the top spot in the conference in the 60-meter dash. In the prelims, he posted a time of 0:07.02 before finishing second overall and first among Division III competitors with a time of 0:07.01. Both times set and/or reset the school record, and his finals time is 39th in the country. Petty added an event victory in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 0:08.37, which is good for second-best in his career and bettered only in the ODAC by his previous season-best mark (8.31) and that of his teammate, Anthony Quinn (8.30).
  • Darin Council, Bridgewater, Sr.
    February 13, 2017
    Council, a senior from Stafford, Va., was at his best at the Finn Pincus Invitational. Council competed in three events, leaping to #1 in the ODAC in the shot put with a toss of 13.83 meters (45' 4.5") to place sixth overall in the event. He finished third in the triple jump with a mark of 14.06 meters (46' 1.5"), which is second only to his previous ODAC-best jump (14.41m). Council added an 18th place showing in the weight throw at 12.37 meters (40' 7"), moving to #6 in the conference.
  • Marissa Coombs, Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., Mid-Distance
    February 06, 2017
    Coombs, a junior from Newton, N.J., put together a trio of performances at the Vince Brown Invitational that each rank either first or second in the ODAC this season. Coombs' highlight showing was in the mile run in which she won the event with an ODAC-best time of 4:57.74. That time is less than three seconds off the ODAC record pace and currently ranks third in NCAA Division III. Coombs also stood out in the 800-meter run, placing third overall and second among collegiate competitors with a time of 2:20.23. That mark is second in the conference and 47th in the country. Coombs final contribution came in the 4x400-meter relay. She helped her teammates finish fourth with an ODAC season-best time of 4:15.47.
  • Lizzy Stanton, Washington and Lee, Sr., Pole Vault
    February 06, 2017
    Stanton, a senior from Papillion, Neb., was on the lone NCAA Division III competitor in the seeded pole vault at the Camel City Invitational on Saturday. She finished fourth overall after clearing 3.45 meters (11' 3.75"), which is the #1 height in the ODAC so far this year. That mark also ranks 38th in the country.
  • DJ Petty, Randolph, So., Hurdles/Sprints
    February 06, 2017
    Petty, a sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va., continued a strong season for Randolph hurlders and sprinters on Saturday with three strong performances at the Vince Brown Invitational. Petty's highlight effort came in the 60-meter hurdles. He finished third overall and second among NCAA Division III competition with a time of 0:08.31. That time is ranked 16th in the country and second in the ODAC by just 0.01-seconds. It is also 0.03-seconds off the conference record time (8.28 by EMU's Richard Robinson in 2016). Petty was the second D-III competitor and 10th overall to cross the line in the 60-meter dash with a time of 0:07.14, which ranks just outside the ODAC's top-five (he is second already at 7.07). He finished 14th overall and seventh amongst division competitors in the 200-meter dash in 0:23.46, which sits just outside the ODAC's top-10.
  • Evan Truman, Lynchburg, Sr., Jumps
    February 06, 2017
    Truman, a senior from Richmond, Va., was back to his jumping best at the Vince Brown Invitational over the weekend, competing in both the long and triple jumps. Truman won the long jump competition with a leap of 6.93 meters (22' 9.0"), which is better than any jump by a conference athlete other than himself. Twice he previously eclipsed the 23-foot mark this season, including the nation's 11th best mark at the Liberty Kickoff. In the triple jump, Truman marked his season debut in the event by bounding 12.52 meters (41' 1.0"), which was good enough for 16th place overall.
  • Amber Celen, Bridgewater, Jr., Sprints/Jumps
    January 30, 2017
    Celen, a junior from Townsend, Del., is currently the fastest woman in NCAA Division III indoor track after her performance at the Patriot Games this weekend. Celen set her second ODAC record in as many weeks, this time in the 60-meter dash. She completed the straight sprint in 0:07.69 to not only top the ODAC charts but stand above all other sprinters in D-III. Celen also competed in the long jump, winning the event with a leap of 5.73 meters (18' 9.75"), which is second-only to her own ODAC record and season-best mark.
  • Danyelle McGrady, Shenandoah, Sr., Throws
    January 30, 2017
    McGrady, a senior from Luray, Va., competed in both throwing events at the SPIRE Open. Her highlight showing came in the weight throw, where she continues to ramp up her performances. She tossed the apparatus 15.34 meters (50' 4.0") to be the first conference thrower to cross the 50-foot mark this season. That mark was fifth overall and tops the ODAC ranks. McGrady also competed in the shot put, placing 33rd at 9.97 meters (32' 8.5").
  • Alex Galloway, Bridgewater, So.
    January 30, 2017
    Galloway, a sophomore from Ashburn, Va., posted a pair of strong sprints at the Patriot Games over the weekend. He now owns the ODAC's season-best time in the 400-meter dash after placing third overall at 0:50.52. That time is tied for 33rd in NCAA Division III. Galloway also competed in the 60-meter dash, finishing in 0:07.22.
  • Darin Council, Bridgewater, Sr.
    January 30, 2017
    Council, a senior from Stafford, Va., was impressive in three performances at the Patriot Games over the weekend. Council's efforts were highlighted by a 14.41-meter (47' 3.5") showing in the triple jump, which finished third amongst all competitors. It is the top mark in the ODAC this season and ranks sixth in NCAA Division III. Council also improved his conference position in the weight throw with a heave of 12.09 meters (39' 8.0") to finish 16th overall. He added a 10th place finish in the shot put after a throw of 13.30 meters (43' 7.75").
  • Marissa Coombs, Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., Mid-Distance
    January 23, 2017
    Coombs, a junior from Newtown, N.J., won a pair of races and posted two ODAC top-three times among four performances at the Captains Invitational. Coombs won the 800-meter dash with an ODAC season-best time of 2:20.52, defeating the next closest competitor by more than five seconds. That time also sits 21st in NCAA Division III. She also won the mile run with a time of 5:14.86. That is third-best in the league and currently 35th in the country. She won the event by more than four seconds. Coombs contributed to VWC's 4x400-meter and 4x800-meter relay teams, which finished second and fourth with times of 4:19.96 and 10:17.79, respectively.
  • Amber Celen, Bridgewater, Jr., Jumps/Sprints
    January 23, 2017
    Celen, a junior from Townsend, Del., was nothing short of stellar at the Liberty Kickoff on Saturday. She competed just twice at the meet, but took over top billing in the ODAC in both events while setting a record and posting a national best time. In the long jump, Celen became the first competitor in ODAC indoor history to eclipse 19 feet as she jumped 5.82 meters (19' 1.25") to take over the top spot in the conference and rank second in NCAA Division III. That was good enough for second amongst all competitors at the Liberty Kickoff. On the track, Celen finished third overall in the 200-meter dash with a time of 0:24.86. When converted due to the banking of the track, her time of 0:25.25 is tops in the ODAC in #1 in the country.
  • Anthony Quinn, Randolph (Sr. - Hurdles/Sprints)
    January 23, 2017
    Quinn, a senior from Pomona, Calif., put together a pair of top-five ODAC performances at the Liberty Kickoff this weekend, finishing as the first NCAA Division III competitor in both of his events. In the 60-meter hurdles, Quinn came up just 0.02 seconds short of the ODAC overall record in placing eighth overall at 0:08.30. The time ranks #1 in the ODAC and #11 in NCAA Division III this season. Quinn kept his strong day going in the 200-meter dash as she finished 24th overall with a time of 0:22.56*, which converts to 0:22.97 seconds for ODAC and NCAA ranking. That time sits second in the conference this season.
  • Evan Truman, Lynchburg, Sr., Jumps
    January 23, 2017
    Truman, a senior from Lynchburg, Va., put himself among the nation's best in the long jump at the Liberty Kickoff. Truman now ranks eighth in NCAA Division III and tops the ODAC seasonal charts after leaping 7.12 meters (23' 4.50"). That is a new personal-best for Truman and is exactly one-foot short of the ODAC record held by former Hornet James Goss.
  • Samantha Yates, Washington and Lee, So., Mid-Distance
    January 16, 2017
    Yates, a sophomore from Birmingham, Ala., took to the mile run this weekend at the Art & Linda Maillet UNC Open. She was the top collegiate finisher, placing second overall in the event in 5:12.29. That time sits atop the ODAC charts and is currently ranked 13th in NCAA Division III.
  • Amber Celen, Bridgewater, Jr., Jumps/Sprints
    January 16, 2017
    Celen, a junior from Townsend, Del., is already showing off her multi-event talents as she picks up her second weekly award of 2016-17, this time for her field performance at the CNU Quadrangular. Celen won the long jump competition with a leap of 5.54 meters (18' 2.25"), which also tops the ODAC seasonal charts and is currently fourth in NCAA Division III. She added two performances on the track, placing second in the 400-meter dash at 1:03.30 and fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at 0:09.59. Both those marks are second in the ODAC in their respective events.
  • Alex Galloway, Bridgewater, So.
    January 16, 2017
    Galloway, a sophomore from Ashburn, Va., posted the two best sprints of the weekend for the ODAC as he competed three times at the CNU Quadrangular. Galloway won the 200-meter dash with a time of 0:22.99, which is second overall to the ODAC and 47th in NCAA Division III. He chimed in third in the 60-meter dash with a time 0:07.16, which is fifth in the league. Galloway added a leg of the third place 4x400-meter relay team to his outing, posting a time of 3:37.85.
  • Darin Council, Bridgewater, Sr.
    January 16, 2017
    Council, a senior from Stafford, Va., got his 2017 campaign started on the right foot with a trio of top-eight showings including an event victory at the CNU Quadrangular. Council won the triple jump with an early ODAC-best mark of 13.90 meters (45' 7.25"). That ranks 15 in NCAA Division III. He also finished second in the shotput at 13.59 meters (44' 7.0"), which sits second in the ODAC. Council added an eighth place showing in the weight throw at 10.77 meters (35' 4.0").
  • Amber Celen, Bridgewater, Jr., Sprints/Jumps
    December 05, 2016
    Celen, a junior form Townsend, Del., kicked off the encore to her All-American sophomore season with a resounding performance at the Bast-Cregger Invitational. Celen won both the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes and helped Bridgewater capture first in the 4x200-meter relay. Her time of 0:25.76 in the 200-dash tops the charts in NCAA Division III. While she won the 60-dash in 0:07.91, Celen's time of 0:07.89 in the event's prelims stands fourth in the country. She added a second place finish in the 300-meter dash in 0:41.62. The Eagles' 4x200-relay team won with a time of 1:48.85.
  • Danyelle McGrady, Shenandoah, Sr., Throws
    December 05, 2016
    McGrady, a senior from Luray, Va., put together a pair of solid throws at the Bast-Cregger Invitational. In just the first meet of the season, the reigning ODAC weight throw champion separated herself from the conference in the event with a heave of 14.35 meters. She was the top NCAA Division III finisher in the event leads the next closest ODAC competitor by nearly three meters (10 feet). She also competed in the shot put, placing 21st overall with a toss of 9.16 meters.
  • Mac Strehler, Washington and Lee, Sr., Distance
    December 05, 2016
    Strehler, a senior from Moseley, Va., picked up right where he left off in the cross country campaign as the ODAC's individual champion competed twice at the Bast-Cregger Invitational. He won the 5,000-meter run with a 15:11.37, which is the second-fastest indoor 5K of his career. He added a third place showing in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:57.32. That is a new career-best time in the event for Strehler.
  • Evan Truman, Lynchburg, Sr., Jumps/Sprints
    December 05, 2016
    Truman, a senior from Richmond, Va., started off his season in fine fashion by competing and placing inside the top-10 in three events at the Bast-Cregger Invitational. Truman finished third in the long jump at 6.86 meters, which tops the ODAC's ranks and sits 10th in the early season tables in NCAA Division III. He also took the track in the 60-meter dash, posting a time of 0:07.15 to finish sixth overall. He added a leg in the fifth-place 4x400-meter relay at 3:34.98.