Sun Belt announces Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week (March 29)
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Ryan Hastings, Appalachian State, Junior, Matthews, N.C.
This past weekend, Ryan Hastings broke the program record in the 800-meter run, finishing with a new personal-best time of 1:49.42. With the performance, Hastings finished third in the 800. Hastings also ran the fourth-leg of Appalachian’s second-place 4x300-meter relay team who finished with a combined time of 2:21.72. He also ran the fourth-leg in the 4x400-meter relay where the Mountaineers placed seventh. Hastings’ time in the 800 is currently the top time in the Sun Belt by more than two seconds. Hastings ranks 16th in the country in the 800 after his new personal and school record.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Tiaan Steenkamp, Arkansas State, Junior, Pretoria, South Africa
Opened his outdoor season with a second place clearance of 2.11m (6-11.00) in the high jump at the Joe Walker Invite. The clearance ranks him atop the league performance list, ninth in the NCAA West Region and 15th nationally.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Tristin Van Ord, Appalachian State, Senior, Chapel Hill, N.C.
At the Raleigh Relays, Tristin Van Ord once again broke her own program record in the 10,000-meter run. Van Ord finished with a new personal-best time of 34:04.64. With the performance, Van Ord finished sixth in the 10,000. That time is currently good for the fifth-fastest time in the country and the fastest time in the Sun Belt by more than three minutes.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
LaPorscha Wells, Georgia State, Senior, Augusta, Ga.
LaPorscha Wells won the Hammer Throw at the Emory Classic with a throw of 61.25m (200' 11").
This mark breaks her own school record and leads the SBC conference by over 15 feet. Wells is now ranked No. 6 in the NCAA East Region and No. 13 nationally. She also placed second in the Shot Put behind teammate Alysiah Whittaker, ranking No. 4 in the conference in the event.
Athlete of the Week Archive
Men's Track Athletes of the Week
March 22 - Jaylen Bacon, Arkansas State
Women's Track Athletes of the Week
March 22 - Zach Blahnik, South Alabama
Men's Field Athletes of the Week
March 22 - Alexis Baldwin, UTA
Women's Field Athletes of the Week
March 22 - Helen Falda, UTA