MOREHEAD, Ky. – Two meets, two school records.
Two weeks, three Ohio Valley Conference honors.
The Morehead State track and field team has exploded onto the stage to start the 2025-26 indoor campaign and it is trending upwards. This time
Sam Afari was named the OVC Freshman of the Week, with
Kennedi Alford claiming co-OVC Freshman of the Week honors, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
"Kennedi and Sam came back from break and look like they haven't missed a beat. It's exciting to see how they progress this season," said MSU head coach
Clay Dixon.
In the team's December meet,
Kalynn Pease broke the school long jump record and was named as the OVC Freshman of the Week.
It marks the first time in known program history that three Eagles claimed OVC weekly awards over the opening two weeks of the season. Over the last five campaigns, MSU has had seven conference indoor weekly honorees.
In track and field, 2014 was the last time three Eagles received OVC Athlete of the Week accolades in the same season.
"Our success is stemming from the diligence of our athletes and hard work they've put in for months preparing for these meets," said MSU sprints and jumps coach
Rob Springfield. "We still have a long way to go, so we have to stay in a place of hunger and not complacency! These early accolades are only a sign that we are coming and we haven't arrived just yet."
At this past Saturday's Marshall Alumni Classic, Afari competed in two events, placing third in the 200-meter dash and fifth running the first leg of the 4x400-meter relay (3:35.48).
Yet, it was his 200m performance that stood out. He recorded the fastest time at the distance at MSU since 2009 with a mark that currently ranks 64th in Division I.
Watch Afari discuss his race on MSU's YouTube channel.
Afari's 200m time is the fastest in the conference this season by 26-hundredths of a second. It also is the fourth best in MSU history and possibly the top mark indoors.
"
Sam Afari came in with a lot of talent and expectation but the biggest thing is letting him compete without having a massive weight on his shoulders. Allowing him to focus on competing and not results is the mindset that he perfectly embodies," said Springfield. "As a result of this, his time has given him a school record, OVC Freshman of the Week and the number one spot in the OVC for the 200m!"
Alford broke the school record in the 60-meter dash by one one-hundredth of a second. She also ran the 300-meter dash for the first time and placed 11th in 43.66.
Initially, Alford sat in third place after recording a 7.72 in the 60m prelims. However, she moved up to second in the finals by recording a 7.68. She was six one-hundredths of a second away from the title.
Her 60m time is fifth best in the OVC and 258th nationally.
"Kennedi winning freshman of the week is a testament of the work she's put in and the trust she's had for the program administered to her!" said Springfield. "She's put in the work and executed exactly how she's supposed to and these results are what you get, a new school record and OVC Freshman of the Week."
She is sharing the award with Southeast Missouri's Kale Clements. The SEMO newcomer placed second in the 800-meter run at the Redhawks Invite in 2:25.35, a drop of three seconds off her collegiate "pr". She also ran a leg of the victorious 4x400m relay, which finished in 4:17.98.
See Alford talk about her 60m performance on MSU's YouTube channel.
The OVC's other winners this week included Tennessee State's Devin Jones (Male Track Athlete of the Week), Southeast Missouri's Madalyn Gray (Female Track Athlete of the Week), SEMO's Marshall Swadley and SIU-Edwardsville's Grant Milbrath (co-Male Field Athlete of the Week) and Southeast Missouri's Liberty Blackburn (Female Field Athlete of the Week).
Afari and Alford also were nominated for OVC Male Track Athlete of the Week and Female Track Athlete of the Week, respectively.
The pair were part of an MSU team effort that registered 15 top-10 finishes and 11 "pr's" at Saturday's Marshall Alumni Classic.
Currently in the OVC, the Eagles have 15 top-eight marks spread out over 11 events.
The Blue and Gold is taking this week off before returning for a pair of meets in Louisville on back-to-back weekends, beginning with the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic on Friday, Jan. 23.
