MOREHEAD, Ky. – It took just one attempt for Morehead State freshman
Kalynn Pease to break the school long jump record and one week to be recognized by the Ohio Valley Conference as the league office tabbed her as the Female Freshman of the Week for the first reporting period of the indoor track and field season, which was announced on Wednesday.
Pease becomes the Eagles' first OVC indoor track and field weekly award winner since
Lucy Singleton was named the co-Female Track Athlete of the Week on February 19, and the first freshman to claim the first-year honor since
Taylor Allen did so on Jan. 24, 2024. Pease is the fifth OVC indoor weekly honoree in the last five seasons for the burgeoning Eagle track and field program.
The Flemingsburg, Ky., native was recognized for her results at the December 6 Marshall Opener, where she leaped 19'04.00" to place second in the long jump, crossed the line in 25.47 to finish sixth in the 200-meter dash, and ran a leg of the 4x400-meter relay that was fourth overall in 4:12.27.
Her long jump broke the school record by 1'01.75" and her 200m time was the fourth fastest in MSU history. The previous long jump mark was set by Karen Jett in 1977. Her 200m effort was one of six to better the meet record.
Pease ranks first in the conference in the long jump and fourth in the 200m this winter. Her relay team has the fifth-best mark.
Additionally, she currently sits 10th in the Southeast Region and tied for 40th nationally in the long jump.
"OVC Freshman of the Week is a great accomplishment for Kalynn," said MSU sprints and jumps coach Rob Springfield. "She's put in the work and got a chance to show her potential early in the season. At Marshall, she jumped three of her five all-time farthest jumps, that includes her new school record, with room for much more improvement. She's set to do some big things for us and we're excited where she's headed in the pit and on the track as well."
The OVC's other winners this week included Little Rock's Jeremiah Patton as both the Male Track Athlete of the Week and the Male Freshman of the Week, Southeast Missouri's Sydney Burdine as the Female Track Athlete of the Week, SEMO's Marshall Swadley as the Male Field Athlete of the Week and teammate Anna Thomason as the Female Field Athlete of the Week.
Sophomore Mark Whitener (Male Track),
Kennedi Alford (Female Track) and Sam Afari (Male Freshman) were Morehead State's other nominees for athlete of the week honors. Pease was also nominated for the Female Field Athlete of the Week.
Pease's performance at Marshall was part of 16 Eagle results that made the MSU record book. The Blue and Gold broke three meet and facility records, had six all-time top-five school marks, plus five "pr's", and two runner-up and four third-place finishes.
Morehead State is off for the holiday break and will return on Saturday, Jan. 10 for the Marshall Alumni Classic in Huntington, W.Va.
