MOREHEAD, Ky. – Entering the Morehead State track & field team's trip to the Raleigh Relays, freshman
Kalynn Pease had already earned four Ohio Valley Conference Athlete of the Week honors, the most for any MSU track and field performer in more than 20 years.
After the Raleigh Relays, that number is up to six as she was named the conference's Female co-Field Athlete of the Week and Female co-Freshman of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Pease earned the honors after setting two more school records, the long jump (20'05"/6.22m) and the 100-meter dash (11.67). The Flemingsburg, Ky., native ranks in a tie for 13th nationally in the long jump and is tied for 97th in Division I in the 100m.
She won the 62-person long jump by defeating 12 power conference athletes, while finishing 10th collegiately (11th overall) out of 122 competitors in the 100m. Although both marks are the top all-time performances at MSU, both were over the allowable wind measurement and officially go down as 'all-conditions' bests'.
"She is in the middle of a season that everything is clicking just right," said MSU head coach Clay Dixon. "My reaction to seeing the results this weekend was just 'wow'."
The top 48 performances earn a bid to the NCAA regionals, which will be held at the end of May at the University of Kentucky, and Pease's long jump is certain to meet that criteria. Last year, her mark would have tied for 25th entering the event.
"Once again, I am grateful to be getting these honors and I know people are probably going to get tired of seeing my name, but I'm just glad that all the work and trust I've put in is showing now," Pease said. "I just need to stay calm, healthy and continue to execute the way I am, so I can continue receiving these honors and be ready for OVC, regionals and even nationals, if things go my way!"
The top 12 finishers at the regionals will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships from June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore.
Pease began the Raleigh Relays with the 100m and recorded the fastest time in the OVC this spring by one-tenth of a second. Her time bettered the school record, which she set a week ago by eight hundredths of a second. She followed that performance on Saturday by winning the long jump by three-quarters of an inch over Duke's Gianna Locci. It is the farthest jump in the OVC this spring by 7.75 inches.
A week ago, Pease was named the OVC's Female co-Track Athlete of the Week, Female Field Athlete of the Week and Female Freshman of the Week, becoming the first known individual in OVC history to win three Athlete of the Week awards in any sport in the same week.
The opening week of the indoor season, Pease was named the OVC Female Freshman of the Week.
"More honors for Ms. Pease! Her mark is undeniable!" said MSU sprints and jumps coach Rob Springfield. "Results are inevitable when you believe in yourself and put the work in. Big up to KP!"
Combined between the indoor and outdoor seasons, MSU track and field has earned 11 OVC Athlete of the Week awards this year.
Morehead State will be off this weekend and return for the Lee Fast Break Invitational on April 10-11 in Cleveland, Tenn.
