2017-18 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

  • Amber Celen, Bridgewater, Sr., Sprints/Jumps
    April 16, 2018
    Celen, a senior from Townsend, Del., took the track for the first time during the outdoor season at the Doc Jopson Invitational and promptly posted a pair of nationally top-10 ranked sprints. Celen won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.18 seconds, but it was her preliminary time of 12.09 seconds that moved her into sixth place in NCAA Division III and second on the ODAC table. Her name looks down upon the rest of the conference sprinters in the 200-meter dash after winning that event with a time of 24.95 seconds. That time slots ninth in the country. Celen also took a turn in the 4x100-meter relay, helping BC to first in the race and second in the ODAC at 49.38 seconds. She also competed in one field event, placing second overall at 5.40 meters (17-8.75) in the long jump. That is second-longest in the league and 44th in the country.
  • Courtney Adams, Bridgewater, Sr., Pole Vault/Jumps
    April 16, 2018
    Adams, a senior from Chesapeake, Va., competed four times at Bridgewater's Doc Jopson Invitational in a pair of field events and two track disciplines. Adams registered NCAA Division III top-30 marks in both the pole vault and triple jump, either taking over or strengthening her hold on the top spot in the ODAC in each. She won the pole vault at 3.53 meters (11-7.00), which ranks 24th in the country and tops the conference table by nearly a foot. She added a victory in the triple jump at 11.37 meters (37-3.75). That is #1 in the ODAC by nearly a half-meter and slots 27th in the Division III. On the track, Adams finished fourth in the 400-meter dash at 1:02.41, and helped the Eagles win the 4x100-meter relay in 49.38 seconds. That is the second-fastest 4x100 time in the ODAC this season.
  • Connor Faint, Eastern Mennonite, Sr., Hurdles/Sprints
    April 16, 2018
    Faint, a senior from Winchester, Va., again has his blistering speed on display with a pair of ODAC top-five performances in the sprints and hurdles at two separate meets over the weekend. He opened with the 400-meter dash at the Doc Jopson Invitational hosted by Bridgewater. He won the event at 49.72 seconds, just missing his own personal-record despite marking his fastest showing in the event this season. That time ranks fifth on the ODAC season chart. Faint then traveled a bit farther to the George Mason Spring Invitational to compete in his bread-and-butter event, the 400-meter hurdles. He stood atop the podium for the second time on the weekend with a time of 52.12 seconds. That is second only this season to his previous ODAC-best and nationally second-ranked mark of 51.89 seconds. In fact, is 52.12-second performance is still better than the time currently ranked third in NCAA Division III.
  • Grant Amoateng, Eastern Mennonite, Jr., Jumps/Sprints
    April 16, 2018
    Amoateng, a junior from Bristow, Va., continued his strong season in the jumps with four strong performances across two meets over the weekend. Amoateng opened at the Doc Jopson Invitational hosted by Bridgewater College. He won the triple jump at 13.96 meters (45-9.75), which ranks lower than only his personal season-best marks on the ODAC triple jump lists. He added a leap of 6.49 meters (21-3.50) to place second in the long jump. Then at the George Mason Spring Invitational, Amoateng exploded for a bounding leap of 14.71 meters (48-3.25) in the triple jump to place third overall in the large Divsion I dominated meet. That mark is sixth best in NCAA Division III, tops in the ODAC by more than three feet this season, and ranks as his new personal-best. He also improved his long jump from the previous day to 6.55 meters (21-6.00), placing third in the event. He season-high in that event is 6.79 meters (22-3.50).
  • Quinn Harlan, Roanoke, Fr., Sprints
    April 09, 2018
    Harlan, a freshman from Woonsocket, R.I., blistered the track while competing in three events at the VertKlasse Meeting hosted by High Point University. Harlan set a school-record in the 100-meter dash at 11.78 seconds. That time is tops in the ODAC and just 0.15 seconds off the conference record held by Amber Celen from Bridgewater. Harlan's time is ranked second in NCAA Division III, just 0.13 seconds off the top time from Tyra Abraham at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Harlan went on to top the ODAC in the 200-meter dash in a 10th-place time of 25.60 seconds. That ranks 22nd in the country. She also competed in the 4x100-meter relay, helping the Maroons to an ODAC-best time of 49.23 seconds.
  • Jennifer Calascione, Roanoke, Jr., Throws
    April 09, 2018
    Calascione, a junior from Parker, Colo., threw in two events at the VertKlasse Meeting hosted by High Point University. Calascione finished seventh in the discus in 40.42 meters (132-7.00), which strengthens her hold on top position on the ODAC's season chart. It also ranks 30th in NCAA Division III. Calascione added a toss of 11.29 meters (37-0.50) in the shot put, which is second only in the ODAC to Virginia Wesleyan Michelle Yates (12.29) and her own previous season-best mark (11.90m).
  • Azavier Kirtley, Lynchburg, Fr., Sprints
    April 09, 2018
    Kirtley, a freshman from Roanoke, Va., put together a strong day on the track in four events at the Colonial Relays hosted by the College of William & Mary. Kirtley took over top position in the ODAC 400-meter dash ranks by placing eighth overall at 48.74 seconds. That time is ranked 10th in NCAA Division III. He also moved into second on the conference's 200-meter dash chart at 21.82 seconds, which ranks 16th in the country. Kirtley added two relays to his day, helping Lynchburg to fifth in the 4x100-meter at 43.75 and sixth in the 1,600-meter sprint medley at 3:34.34.
  • Quentin Webert, Virginia Wesleyan, Fr., Throws
    April 09, 2018
    Webert, a freshman from St. Peter's, Mo., competed at two different meets over the weekend. At the Colonial Relays hosted by the College of William & Mary, Webert reset his own school record in the hammer throw. He tossed the apparatus 42.92 meters (140-10.00), which was tops among Division III competitors. It also ranks third on the ODAC seasonal chart. At the Battlegrounds Relays hosted by Shenandoah University, Webert threw the shot 10.93 meters (35-10.5) to place 14th overall.
  • Natalie Deacon, Lynchburg, Gr., Mid-Distance/Distance
    April 02, 2018
    Deacon, a grad student from West Chester, Pa., picks up her second straight weekly award after excelling in the 1,500-meter run at the Raleigh Relays over the weekend. Deacon was the second NCAA Division III competitor to finish the race at the largely Division I meet, placing 43rd overall in 4:32.69. That time tops the ODAC ranks and currently sits fourth in the country. With a few weeks left in the regular season, Deacon leads the ODAC in both mid-distance events, ranking third nationally in the 800-meter (2:11.78) in addition to her 1,500-meter standing.
  • Mara Briggs, Roanoke, Jr., Jumps
    April 02, 2018
    Briggs, a junior from Marion, Va., picks up her second straight weekly honor after continuing her strong outdoor season at the Fredy Hardy Invitational hosted by the University of Richmond. Briggs set the Roanoke record and came up just 0.03 meters show of tying the ODAC standard in the high jump by clearing 1.70 meters (5-7.00). That mark is currently second in NCAA Division III and again just 0.03 meters off the #1 position held by Emma Egan from Williams College.
  • Keyontae Norfleet, Virginia Wesleyan, So., Sprints
    April 02, 2018
    Norfleet, a sophomore from Norfolk, Va., blistered in three events on the track at the Blue & Silver Challenge hosted by Christopher Newport University. Norfleet won the 200-meter dash in 21.80 seconds, which ranks #1 in the ODAC and 12th in NCAA Division III. He finished second overall in the 100-meter dash in 11.02 seconds, which is third in the ODAC and 49th in the country. Norfleet then took his turn in the 4x100-meter relay, helping the Marlins to the top spot in the ODAC with a new school-record time of 41.67 seconds. That mark is currently slotted second in Division III.
  • Grant Amoateng, Eastern Mennonite, Jr., Jumps/Sprints
    April 02, 2018
    Amoateng, a junior from Bristow, Va., competed in four events at the Montreat College Invitational and placed his name back atop the ODAC long and triple jump season charts. Amoateng won the triple jump at 14.08 meters (46-2.50), which ranks ninth in NCAA Division III. He added a third place showing in the long jump at 6.79 meters (22-3.50), which stands 18th in the country. Amoateng also took a two turns on the track, placing 20th in the 100-meter dash in 11.50 seconds and helping EMU to sixth in the 4x100-meter relay at 43.30 seconds.
  • Natalie Deacon, Lynchburg, Gr., Mid-Distance/Distance
    March 26, 2018
    Deacon, a grad student from West Chester, Pa., was strong on the track in her first outdoor appearance of the season at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational. Deacon competed in three overall events, highlight by a victory in the 800-meter dash. Her time of 2:11.78 leads the ODAC by more than 10 seconds and is ranked second in NCAA Division III. She also competed in the 5,000-meter run, finishing 10th in 18:48.14, and helped Lynchburg win the 4x400-meter relay in 4:06.07. That time is sixth in program history and #1 in the ODAC.
  • Mara Briggs, Roanoke, Jr., Jumps
    March 26, 2018
    Briggs, a junior from Marion, Va., put together a strong first outdoor performance of the season at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational. A national qualifier in the indoor high jump, Briggs won the event this weekend after clearing 1.63 meters (5-4.25) to take over the #1 spot in the ODAC. That mark is also fifth-best in NCAA Division III so far this season.
  • DJ Petty, Randolph, Jr., Hurdles/Sprints
    March 26, 2018
    Petty, a junior from Mechanicsville, Va., put together a strong showing at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational that included a national highly-ranked time in one of the two events in which he competed. Petty finished second overall in the 110-meter hurdles with a new ODAC seasonal top-time of 14.90 seconds. That time is currently ranked eighth in NCAA Division III. He added a fourth place showing in the 200-meter dash, winning his section in 22.65 seconds. that is fifth-fastest in the ODAC.
  • Dash Dericks, Washington and Lee, Sr., Throws
    March 26, 2018
    Dericks, a senior from Waveland, Ind., continued his strong start to the outdoor season in the throws with two more impressive tosses at the Dr. Jack Toms Invitational over the weekend. Dericks finished second in both the discus and javelin. He improved upon his already ODAC top mark in the discus with a heave of 46.54 meters (152-8.00), which ranks 10th in NCAA Division III. He added a throw of 48.53 meters (159-3.00) in the javelin, which is just off his previous season-high (51.15m; 167-10.00), which is second in the ODAC.
  • Kaleigh Hinton, Washington and Lee, Sr., Hurdles
    March 19, 2018
    Hinton, a senior from Florham Park, N.J., took over the #1 positions on the ODAC season charts in both the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles events at the W&L Carnival over the weekend. Hinton was the top Division III finisher in both disciplines, finishing second overall in each. Her time of 1:06.90 in the 400-meter hurdles is 11th in the country and nearly three-seconds faster than the closer league competitor. Her ODAC-best time of 16.00 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles sits 33rd in Division III. Hinton also competed in the 4x400-meter relay, helping W&L to third overall and second amongst D-III competitors at 4:14.54.
  • Bailey Parks, Roanoke, Fr., Jumps/Sprints
    March 19, 2018
    Parks, a freshman from Cornelius, N.C., put together a pair of winning performances at the W&L Carnival over the weekend. Parks won both the long and triple jumps and ranks inside NCAA Division III's top-50 in both events thru the first two weeks of outdoor competition. Her mrk of 10.90 meters (35-9.25) tops the ODAC season chart and sits 20th in the country. She is now #2 in the ODAC table in the long jump after leaping to 5.14 meters (16-10.50) in the long jump. That mark is 26th in the nation. Parks also helped the Maroons to second in the 4x100-meter relay with a team time of 51.07 seconds.
  • Alex Dolwick, Washington and Lee, Jr., Distance
    March 19, 2018
    Dolwick, a junior from Apex, N.C., starred in one of the most grueling track events at the W&L Carnival over the weekend. Dolwick set a new personal career-best time in winning the 10,000-meter run in 32:01.45. His previous career-low mark was 33:50.90, making this new standard a 1:49.56 improvement. Dolwick's new time tops the ODAC and ranks second overall in NCAA Division III throughout the first two weeks of outdoor competition.
  • Dash Dericks, Washington and Lee, Sr., Throws
    March 19, 2018
    Dericks, a senior from Waveland, Ind., put together a strong showing despite less than ideal weather at the W&L Carnival. Dericks competed in the discus and javelin, finishing as the top Division III competitor and second overall in the discus at 42.72 meters (140-2.00). That mark is tops in the ODAC and 13th in the country thru the first two weeks of outdoor competition. Dericks finished third overall in the javelin at 51.15 meters (167-10.00). That mark ranks second in the ODAC and 28th on the national list.
  • Endasia Mitchell, Lynchburg, Jr., Sprints/Mid-Distance
    March 12, 2018
    Mitchell, a junior from Perry Hall, Md., posted a pair of ODAC top times after competing in two events at the Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC Wilmington. Mitchell finished fourth overall in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.94 seconds. That ranks #1 in NCAA Division III in the early season and fifth in Lynchburg program history. She added a seventh place showing in the 800-meter run in 2:26.72, which is 28th in the country.
  • Rachel Murray, Lynchburg, Jr., Throws
    March 12, 2018
    Murray, a junior from Chesapeake, Va., competed in three throwing events at the Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC-Wilmington. Murray established early ODAC top marks in both the discus and javelin while sitting second in the hammer throw. She won the javelin at Wilmington with a toss of 33.66 meters (110-5.00), which is 18th in NCAA Division III. It is also just off her personal-best and ranks fifth in school history. Murray added a fourth place finish in the hammer at 34.24 meters (112-4.00), just two inches behind teammate Elle Benefield for tops in the conference. Murray then placed seventh in the discus at 31.77 meters (104-3.00).
  • Kevin Moran, Lynchburg, So., Sprints/Hurdles
    March 12, 2018
    Moran, a sophomore from Milford, N.J., competed in three events at the Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC-Wilmington. Moran's highlight moment came in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing second overall at 55.08 seconds. That time leads the ODAC and ranks second in NCAA Division III in the early meets of the season. It is also eighth-fastest in Lynchburg program history. Moran added an 11th place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at 16.05 seconds and 20th place in the 400-meter dash at 52.14 seconds.
  • Ryan Shepard, Bridgewater, Jr., Jumps
    March 12, 2018
    Shepard, a junior from Port Republic, Va., got his outdoor season started with a strong showing at the Coastal Carolina Invitational. He placed fourth overall in the high jump at 1.90 meters (6-2.75). That mark is rated #2 in NCAA Division III thru the first meets of the 2018 spring slate.