CAA Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards – Jan. 16
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 16, 2024) – The CAA has announced its fourth indoor track and field weekly awards for the 2023-24 season. On the women’s side, North Carolina A&T senior Fajr Kelly earned CAA Track Athlete of the Week honors, and Hampton junior Abria Smith was named CAA Field Athlete of the Week. For the men, Northeastern junior Ethan Exilhomme collected CAA Track Athlete of the Week accolades, and Campbell senior C.J. McBride received CAA Field Athlete of the Week recognition.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Fajr Kelly, North Carolina A&T
Senior | Middle Distance | Washington, D.C. / Theodore Roosevelt
Kelly ran the conference’s top time in the 800m this season at the 2024 Gamecock Opener. The senior ran an indoor personal-best 2:09.04 to win the event at South Carolina. The time not only tops the CAA but ranks 17th in the nation. Kelly also competed on the Aggie 4x400m relay team, helping A&T to a season-best effort of 3:49.26.
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Abria Smith, Hampton
Junior | Throws | Chicago, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor Community HS
Smith won the shot put and took second in the weight throw at the HBCU Showcase en route to Most Outstanding Female Athlete honors at the event. The junior broke the Hampton program record in the shot put with a throw of 15.20m (49-10.50), a mark that ranks first in the CAA and cracks the top 50 in the NCAA. In the weight throw, Smith recorded a personal-best toss of 17.96m (58-11.25). Her mark sits second in the conference this season.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ethan Exilhomme, Northeastern
Junior | Sprints / Hurdles | Tewksbury, Mass. / Timbercreek HS
Exilhomme posted the nation’s top time in the 60m hurdles this season at the UMass Flagship Indoor Invitational. The junior broke the Northeastern program and CAA records, winning the 60m hurdles in a blazing 7.60. Additionally, Exilhomme won the 200m, running 21.41, a time that ranks third in the conference and 37th in the country this season. He concluded his day by helping Northeastern to a first-place finish in the 4x400m relay as the Huskies ran a season-best 3:15.57.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
C.J. McBride, Campbell
Senior | Jumps | Apex, N.C. / Apex HS
McBride made his name known around CAA Track and Field, breaking the conference indoor records in the high jump and triple jump at the 2024 Gamecock Opener. The senior opened his season with a victory in the high jump, clearing 2.16m (7-01.00) before leaping 15.32m (50-03.25) to take first in the triple jump. Both marks are top-25 in the NCAA this season, ranking 15th in the high jump and 25th in the triple jump. McBride’s clearance in the high jump is the best by a CAA student-athlete – indoor or outdoor- since 1995, and he is the first to go over 15m in the triple jump since 2015.
2023-24 CAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week
Dec. 5: Cristal Cuervo, Towson
Dec. 12: Lucheyona Weaver, North Carolina A&T
Jan. 9: Arriah Gilmer, Hampton
Jan. 16: Fajr Kelly, North Carolina A&T
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Dec. 5: Manie Mevo, Towson
Dec. 12: Dominique Biron, Northeastern; Courtney Lines, UNCW
Jan. 9: Oluwatomilayo Akintunde, Hampton
Jan. 16: Abria Smith, Hampton
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Dec. 5: Caleb Jackson, North Carolina A&T
Dec. 12: Jason Holmes, North Carolina A&T
Jan. 9: Antoine Spencer, Hampton
Jan. 16: Ethan Exilhomme, Northeastern
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week
Dec. 5: Carlos Alexander, North Carolina A&T
Dec. 12: Joseph Palmer, North Carolina A&T
Jan. 16: C.J. McBride, Campbell
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