Florida’s Will Claye (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Brittany Harrell (McComb, Miss.) have earned Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Week honors for their stellar performances at the Texas A&M Challenge presented by Mondo America this past weekend, the league offices in Birmingham, Ala., announced Tuesday afternoon.
Claye was named the SEC’s Male Field Athlete of the Week, while Harrell was tabbed as the SEC’s Female Freshman of the Week.
Claye turned in the No. 1 mark in the NCAA this season in the men’s triple jump, winning the event at the Texas A&M Challenge with a leap of 16.86m/55-3.25. He is the only athlete in the nation this season to have eclipsed the 55-feet plateau in the men’s triple jump. He has automatically qualified for the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships, jumping in his first meet for the Gators since transferring from Oklahoma this past summer.
Claye recorded the second-best men’s triple jump mark in school history and shattered the previous Texas A&M Challenge meet record of 16.45m/53-11.75. He achieved his feat against stiff competition that included four of the top-25 men’s triple jumpers in the country this season.
Harrell placed fourth and was the top-finishing freshman in the pentathlon at the Texas A&M Challenge in her first collegiate multi-event. She posted a score of 3,731, which goes down as one of the top-five pentathlon scores in school history.
Harrell currently ranks 18th in the nation and is the nation’s leading freshman in the pentathlon.
Florida returns to action this weekend when it travels to Blacksburg, Va., to participate in the two-day Virginia Tech Elite Meet beginning Friday.
SEC TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (WEEK 3 – FEBRUARY 1)
Men’s Runner of the Week: Dey Tuach, Arkansas
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week: Will Claye, Florida
Men’s Freshman of the Week: Stephen Saenz, Auburn
Women’s Runner of the Week: Shelise Williams, Arkansas
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week: Tina Sutej, Arkansas
Women’s Freshman of the Week: Brittany Harrell, Florida
