Track & Field

OTF: April 5 Athletes of the Week

DALLAS – As the outdoor season gets into full swing, Conference USA has recognized Charlotte and Rice student athletes in the weekly awards this week. Ta-Halia Fairman (Charlotte) was named the women’s track athlete, while Rice’s Tara Simpson-Sullivan earned the field honor in her first competition of the 2022 season. On the men’s side, Rice pole vaulter Alex Slinkman took home the field honor. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Surf & Turf Golf.

C-USA Female Track Athlete of the Week – Ta-Halia Fairman, Charlotte, So., Jacksonville, N.C.
Fairman set a new PR and moved into third on Charlotte’s all-time list in the women’s 200m with her time of 23.54. She leads C-USA in the event by almost half a second and ranks 46th nationally. She also ran the second leg of the 4x400 meter relay that also currently leads the league with a time of 3:43.29.

C-USA Female Field Athlete of the Week – Tara Simpson-Sullivan, Rice, So., Penrith, England
Making her first appearance of the outdoor season, Simpson-Sullivan won the hammer throw with a distance of 66.81m (219-2.00) at the Roadrunner Invitational. That mark ranks first in C-USA, seventh in the NCAA West region, and 10th in the NCAA. In addition, Simpson-Sullivan finished third overall in her very first discus competition, throwing 42.16m (138-4.00).

C-USA Male Field Athlete of the Week – Alex Slinkman, Rice, So., Mechanicsville, Va.
Slinkman placed third in the pole vault at the Houston Alumni Invitational, establishing a season-best mark by clearing 5.21m (17-1.00) on his first attempt. His clearance currently ranks first in C-USA, 13th in the NCAA West region, and 25th in the NCAA.

2022 C-USA Female Track Athletes of the Week
M22     Mikah Alleyne, Marshall
M29     Eusila Chepkemei, Middle Tennessee
A5        Ta-Halia Fairman, Charlotte

2022 C-USA Female Field Athletes of the Week 
M22     Abigail Kwarteng, Middle Tennessee
M29     Rhema Otabor, FIU
A5        Tara Simpson-Sullivan, Rice
 
2022 C-USA Male Track Athletes of the Week 
M22     Trevion McCalla, UTSA 
M29     Nick Scudder, Charlotte
A5        No nominations

2022 C-USA Male Field Athletes of the Week
M22     Grant Szalek, UTSA
M29     Jemuel Miller, UTSA
A5        Alex Slinkman, Rice