Track & Field

ITF: Feb. 15 Athletes of the Week

DALLAS – With the 2022 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships taking place this weekend, Feb. 19-20, Conference USA has announced the final indoor weekly athlete honors and recognized North Texas, UAB and Charlotte track and field student athletes.Ta-Halia Fairman (Charlotte) was named the women’s track athlete, while UAB senior pole vaulter Anna Massa earned the field athlete honor this week. On the men’s side, Charlotte’s Justin Leaston was recognized while North Texas weight thrower Chris Samaniego picked up the field award for his performance. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Surf and Turf Golf. 

C-USA Female Track Athlete of the Week – Ta-Halia Fairman, Charlotte, So., Jacksonville, N.C.
Fairman broke the Liberty Dixon Invite record in the 200m, winning with a Conference USA-leading time of 23.73. The mark ranks 59th nationally and is the second best mark in Charlotte program history. She also ran a 7.61 in the 60m at the event, which is the seventh best time in C-USA this season 
 
C-USA Female Field Athlete of the Week – Anna Massa, UAB, Sr., Lapela, Spain
Massa set a UAB school record for the indoor pole vault as she recorded a 4.15m vault at the Samford Open on Saturday. The senior’s 13-7.25 clearance ties for the lead in C-USA this season and is tied for 45th nationally.

C-USA Male Track Athlete of the Week – Justin Leaston, Charlotte, So., Raleigh, N.C.
Leaston clocked a personal-best time of 7.81 in the 60m hurdles at the Liberty Dixon Invite for a time that ranks 27th nationally this season. He won the event and moved to No. 2 all-time at Charlotte with the performance, closing in on the 2011 record of 7.78 set by Isaac McReynolds.

C-USA Male Field Athlete of the Week – Chris Samaniego, North Texas, Sr., Monahans, Texas
Samaniego broke his own North Texas school record in the weight throw for the third-consecutive meet heaving it 62-2.25 (18.95) on his fifth throw. It is the second-best mark in the C-USA this season. 

2022 C-USA Female Track Athletes of the Week 
J18    Savannah Heckman, WKU 
J25    Maya Singletary, Charlotte
F1    Lyn’Nikka Vance, Middle Tennessee
F8    Kat Duren, UAB
F15    Ta-Halia Fairman, Charlotte
 
2022 C-USA Female Field Athletes of the Week 
J18    Ingeborg Gruenwald, UTSA
J25    Ingeborg Gruenwald, UTSA
F1    Katie Isenbarger, WKU
F8    Katie Isenbarger, WKU
F15    Anna Massa, UAB
 
2022 C-USA Male Track Athletes of the Week 
J18    Bashiru Abdullahi, UTSA 
J25    Jordani Woodley, UTEP
F1    Karlington Anunagba, North Texas
F8    Nick Scudder, Charlotte
F15    Justin Leaston, Charlotte
 
2022 C-USA Male Field Athletes of the Week 
J18    Shyhiem Scotland, Charlotte 
J25    Benjamin Onyekwelu, Middle Tennessee
F1    Noah Hicks, Rice
F8    Grant Levesque, Rice
F15    Chris Samaniego, North Texas