A-Sun Release
KENNESAW, Ga. – A pair of Kennesaw State women’s track and field athletes were honored Friday (May 17), as the conference announced that senior
Michelle Quimby (Ballston Lake, NY / Shenendehowa HS) and freshman
Alicia Whittle (Douglasville, Ga. / Harvester Christian Academy) earned top honors following the 2013 Atlantic Sun Outdoor Track and Field Championship, held in Jacksonville, Fla., on May 10-11.
Voted on the league coaches, the duo earned two of the four accolades given out, following the team’s second place showing at the championship meet.
Named the 2013 Most Outstanding Field Performer, Quimby turned in a record-breaking performance in the pole vault, reaching a height of 3.81m to win gold in the event and set a new KSU record.
The Ballston Lake, N.Y., native also garnered a silver medal in the high jump, needing only two attempts to clear the winning height of 1.72m (5-07.75).
“I am so happy for Michelle,” Head Coach Andy Eggerth said. “What a great way to finish out her career with three personal records, a gold medal and school record in the pole vault, and a silver medal in the high jump. It was a very competitive vote for the women's field athlete as there were lots of great candidates. It is quite the honor for the conference coaches to recognize Michelle.”
Competing in her first A-Sun Outdoor Championship, Whittle scored more points than any other freshman (21.5) in the meet, earning her the title of the 2013 Most Outstanding Freshman Performer.
The Douglasville, Ga., native broke two school records individually with her silver medal performances in the 200m (23.79) and 400m races (54.05), before joining the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams to break two more.
The 4x400m relay team ran a KSU-best 3:45.37, earning her another silver, while the 4x100m team racked up a gold medal with a time of 44.63. The time currently ranks seventh in the East half of the Nation, and qualified the team for the upcoming NCAA Preliminaries held in Greensboro N.C. beginning May 23.
“We are blessed to have Alicia on our team,” Eggerth said. “She is just scratching the surface of what she can accomplish. After breaking her ankle last spring, she still hasn't fully recovered mentally and when she's confident to go all out in the weight room and on the track everyday she's really going to shock some people. It will be a fun process working with Alicia over the next three years to help her fulfill her potential.”
Select members of the women’s track and field team, including Whittle, will next travel to Greensboro, N.C. to compete at the NCAA Preliminaries beginning May 23.
Keep up with Owls track and field teams by following KSU on Twitter at
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUTrackFieldXC or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
Facebook.
Kennesaw State University is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
