CAA Outdoor Track & Field Weekly Awards – May 2
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (May 2, 2023) – The CAA has announced its final outdoor track and field weekly awards for the 2023 season. North Carolina A&T graduate sprinter Jada Griffin earned CAA Track Athlete of the Week, and Northeastern graduate thrower Gianna Rao received CAA Field Athlete of the Week honors for the Women. On the men’s side, Stony Brook graduate distance runner Robert Becker collected CAA Track Athlete of the Week accolades, while Monmouth redshirt sophomore jumper Keven Kevelier was named CAA Field Athlete of the Week.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jada Griffin, North Carolina A&T
Graduate | Sprints | Spring Lake, N.C. / Overhills
Griffin ran her season-best time in the 200m at the Charlotte Invitational and helped the North Carolina A&T 4x400m relay team to its second straight gold medal. The graduate sprinter posted a time of 23.45 in the 200m to take second in the competition. The time is second in the CAA this season, while it ranks top 50 in the NCAA East Region and in the top 100 in the NCAA. In addition, Griffin helped the A&T 4x400m relay team run its second-best time this season, winning the event in 3:39.58
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Gianna Rao, Northeastern
Graduate | Throws | Glocester, R.I. / Ponaganset HS
Rao won the hammer throw at the UMASS Pre-Championship Invitational, recording a personal-best mark in the event. The graduate launched a throw of 60.68m (199-01.00) to claim the victory. Rao ranks second in the CAA in the event this season and is just the second student-athlete with a mark over 60m this spring. Her throw ranks 28th in the NCAA East Region and is 56th nationally.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Robert Becker, Stony Brook
Graduate | Distance | Hurley, N.Y. / Kingston
Becker earned a top-10 finish in the 1500m at the 127th running of the Penn Relays. The graduate student placed eighth in the championship division with a time of 3:43.85, nearly missing his season-best mark. Becker currently sits second in the CAA in the 1500m (3:43.67) this spring.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Keven Kevelier, Monmouth
R-Sophomore | Jumps | Collingswood, N.J. / Collingswood
Kevelier won the high jump at the Carol and John Covert Classic with a personal-best clearance of 2.10m (6-10.75). The mark ranks second in the CAA, and Kevelier is just the second student-athlete in the conference to clear 2.05m this spring. With the jump, he ranks 26th in the NCAA East Region and 65th in the NCAA.
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
May 2: Jada Griffin, 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; Kayla McGoogan, Elon
May 2: Gianna Rao, Northeastern
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
May 2: Robert Becker, Stony Brook
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
May 2: Keven Kevelier, Monmouth
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