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Southern Conference announces OTF Athletes of the Week
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman's Matthew Smith and The Citadel’s Arthur Parham have been named the Southern Conference men’s outdoor track and field athletes of the week, respectively. Additionally, Furman's Carly Wilkes and The Citadel’s Ali Wilson-Ruffin claimed women’s outdoor track and field athletes of the week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Selections were made by panels of the league’s track and field coaches and included all competition from March 26-April 1.
Furman continued its outdoor season at NC State, competing in the Raleigh Relays on March 27-29.
Smith finished 15th overall in the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:40.54. With this performance, the Paladins senior now leads the SoCon and is ranked 13th in the East Region and 16th in the country in the event.
Wilkes, while 13th overall, was the first collegiate finisher in the women’s 10,000m, completing the race in 33:20.08. The Salem, Virginia, native leads the SoCon in this event and is ranked ninth in the East Region and 12th in the country.
The Citadel visited Davidson for the Davidson Relays on March 29.
Parham won the javelin with a heave of 62.74m, which is a personal best for the sophomore. His performance leads the conference and ranks 30th in the East Region.
Ruffin received her second consecutive athlete of the week honor after winning the javelin with a toss of 44.41m, besting last week’s performance by .06m, and recording a new season’s best. The Bulldogs senior continues to lead the conference and is ranked 43rd in the East Region.
Furman’s squad will cross the Carolina state line to compete in the Duke Invitational and Asheville Bulldog Invite on April 10-12. The Citadel returns to the University of South Carolina campus on April 12 for the Gamecock Invite.
Also nominated (Men): Bradley Franklin (Track – Samford), Xander Topos (Track – VMI), Bryce Davis (Field – Samford), Cameron Thomas (Field – VMI)
Also nominated (Women): Nichole Harris (Track – Mercer), Amiel Dabney (Track – Samford), Lesley Boyd (Track – Chattanooga), Naturale Faison (Track – VMI), Norah Haney (Field – Chattanooga), Julie Freitas (Field – VMI)
2024-25 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week
Men’s track
March 26 Jason Bowers, ETSU
April 2 Matthew Smith, Furman
Women’s track
March 26 Micailah Cook, ETSU
April 2 Carly Wilkes, Furman
Men’s field
March 26 Brent Bell, ETSU
April 2 Arthur Parham, The Citadel
Women’s field
March 26 Ali Wilson-Ruffin, The Citadel
April 2 Ali Wilson-Ruffin, The Citadel