CAA Outdoor Track & Field Weekly Awards – April 25
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (April 25, 2023) – The CAA has announced its outdoor track and field weekly awards for the sixth time during the 2023 season. UNCW swept the men’s awards, with senior Josh Parks earning CAA Track Athlete of the Week and sophomore Donovan Lara claiming Field Athlete of the Week honors. Three teams were represented on the women’s side, as North Carolina A&T graduate student Paula Salmon was named CAA Track Athlete of the Week, and Northeastern senior Dominique Biron and Elon redshirt junior Kaitlin McGoogan shared Co-Field Athlete of the Week accolades.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Paula Salmon, North Carolina A&T
Graduate | Sprints / Hurdles | Brooklyn, N.Y. / Clara Barton
Salmon won the 100m hurdles and was a member of the winning North Carolina A&T 4x100m relay team at the Aggie Classic. The graduate hurdler posted the fastest time in the prelims at 13.12 (w) and ran away from the field in the finals with a winning time of 13.17. In addition, Salmon ran the anchor leg on the A&T 4x100m relay team, which crossed the finish in 45.40 to claim first place. Salmon ranks 10th in the NCAA East Region and 15th nationally in the 100m hurdles this season.
WOMEN’S CO-FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Dominique Biron, Northeastern
Senior | Combined Events | Bow, N.H. / Cushing Academy
Biron reset her program record in the Heptathlon, recording a league-leading mark of 5,485 points at the Virginia Challenge. The senior multi posted personal-best marks in three events – 100mH (13.86), 200m (24.60) and 800m (2:17.69) – to help her finish fourth in the competition. Biron’s score tops the CAA by over 600 points, ranking 11th in the NCAA East Region and 23rd in the nation.
WOMEN’S CO-FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kaitlin McGoogan, Elon
R-Junior | Throws | Jamestown, N.C. / Ragsdale
McGoogan broke the Elon program record and established the league’s top mark in the hammer throw at the Wake Forest Invitational. McGoogan launched the implement 61.05m (200-03.00) to finish second in the event. She leads the CAA by nearly three meters, ranking 24th in the NCAA East Region and 46th nationally. In addition, McGoogan recorded a season-best mark of 49.65m (162-11.00) to take fourth in the discus throw, which sits second in the conference.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Josh Parks, UNCW
Senior | Sprints / Hurdles | Kannapolis, N.C. / A.L. Brown HS
Parks set a UNCW program record in the 110m hurdles and a season-best mark in the 400m hurdles at the USC Open. The senior hurdler ran 13.75 in the prelims of the 110m hurdles, the second-fastest wind-legal time in the conference this season, before clocking 13.67 (w) to take third in the finals. In addition, Parks won the 400m hurdles with a time of 51.98. Parks ranks 20th in the NCAA East Region and 36th nationally in the 110m hurdles while ranking 34th in the NCAA East Region and 60th in the country in the 400m hurdles.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Donovan Lara, UNCW
Sophomore | Jumps | Seagrove, N.C. / Eastern Randolph
Lara recorded a personal best and league-leading mark of 2.13m (6-11.75) in the high jump at the USC Open. The sophomore finished seventh in the competition, while his mark ranks 17th in the NCAA East Region and 34th nationally. Lara is the only CAA student-athlete to clear 2.05m this spring, and he has done so twice.
2023 CAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Mar. 21: Piper Jons, Elon
Mar. 28: Paula Salmon, N.C. A&T
Apr. 4: Jada Griffin, N.C. A&T
Apr. 11: Yasmeen Tinsley, Monmouth
Apr. 18: Dejah Grant, Hampton; Ashley Navarro, Monmouth
Apr. 25: Paula Salmon, N.C. A&T
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Mar. 21: Megan Albamonti, Delaware
Mar. 28: Megan Albamonti, Delaware; Luzy Lieger, Charleston
Apr. 4: Dominique Biron, Northeastern
Apr. 11: Luzy Lieger, Charleston
Apr. 18: Dieusi Armand, Hampton
Apr. 25: Dominique Biron, Northeastern; Kaitlin McGoogan, Elon
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Mar. 21: Ethan Exilhomme, Northeastern
Mar. 28: Benjamin Godish, Northeastern; Reheem Hayles, N.C. A&T
Apr. 4: Reheem Hayles, N.C. A&T
Apr. 18: Benjamin Godish, Northeastern
Apr. 25: Josh Parks, UNCW
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Mar. 21: Donovan Lara, UNCW
Mar. 28: Chris Bagnell, Monmouth
Apr. 4: Ryan DeBarber, UNCW
Apr. 11: Chris Bagnell, Monmouth
Apr. 18: Evan Niedrowski, Monmouth
Apr. 25: Donovan Lara, UNCW
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