Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Photo by: Alfredo Carrillo
Trio Earns C-USA Outdoor Weekly Awards
4/12/2016 3:33:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
IRVING, Texas – The Middle Tennessee track & field teams earned a trio of Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week awards as Agnes Abu, Sampson Laari and Atsu Nyamadi were each honored.
"It was great to have those three get honored," said head coach Dean Hayes. "They work hard and each had great performances that will get them in the regionals, and Atsu (Nyamadi) should be selected to the NCAA Championships for the multi-events."
The Middle Tennessee men's team, aided by the projected point totals of Laari and Nyamadi are ranked No. 22 in the NCAA, while the women's team vaulted 17 spots to 127 with the aid of Abu's performance.
Abu was named the C-USA Female Track Athlete of the Week and raced in the 800 meter and the 4x400-meter relay.
In the 800, Abu won the race in her first time running the event in 2016, finishing in a personal-best 2:05.77, while she also aided the 4x400-meter relay team place second in a season-best 3:39.47.
Abu's 800 meter time ranks as the 14th best in the NCAA, while the 4x400-meter relay team ranks 50th best.
For Laari, it was much of the same as the Blue Raider raced to first in the 800 meter and aided the 4x400-meter relay.
Laari placed first in the 800, finishing in a season-best and NCAA 13th best 1:48.01. Laari's time ranks as the top time in Conference USA.
The Kumasi, Ghana native also aided the 4x400 team to a fifth place finish in 3:12.66, which ranks as the second best in Conference USA.
Nyamadi, a 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Second-Team All-American, finished third at the Bulldog Decathlon with a school record 7,800 points and was named C-USA Male Track Athlete of the Week. Nyamadi's point total ranks as the sixth best in the NCAA.
The senior finished first in the javelin with a throw of 64.07 meters, while also placing third in the long jumps (7.51m) and the discus (45.35). Nyamadi's distance in the long jump ranks 32nd in the NCAA and second in Conference USA.
Nyamadi also competed in the pole vault (16th/3.75m), shot put (5th/13.76m) and the high jump (5th/2.00m).
"It was great when you can get three of the four and we are really happy with that," said Hayes. "They worked hard and competed very well, and it is the reward that they get for working hard."
Middle Tennessee continues competition at the Mt. SAC Relays and the APSU Invitational Saturday April 16.
"It was great to have those three get honored," said head coach Dean Hayes. "They work hard and each had great performances that will get them in the regionals, and Atsu (Nyamadi) should be selected to the NCAA Championships for the multi-events."
The Middle Tennessee men's team, aided by the projected point totals of Laari and Nyamadi are ranked No. 22 in the NCAA, while the women's team vaulted 17 spots to 127 with the aid of Abu's performance.
Abu was named the C-USA Female Track Athlete of the Week and raced in the 800 meter and the 4x400-meter relay.
In the 800, Abu won the race in her first time running the event in 2016, finishing in a personal-best 2:05.77, while she also aided the 4x400-meter relay team place second in a season-best 3:39.47.
Abu's 800 meter time ranks as the 14th best in the NCAA, while the 4x400-meter relay team ranks 50th best.
For Laari, it was much of the same as the Blue Raider raced to first in the 800 meter and aided the 4x400-meter relay.
Laari placed first in the 800, finishing in a season-best and NCAA 13th best 1:48.01. Laari's time ranks as the top time in Conference USA.
The Kumasi, Ghana native also aided the 4x400 team to a fifth place finish in 3:12.66, which ranks as the second best in Conference USA.
Nyamadi, a 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Second-Team All-American, finished third at the Bulldog Decathlon with a school record 7,800 points and was named C-USA Male Track Athlete of the Week. Nyamadi's point total ranks as the sixth best in the NCAA.
The senior finished first in the javelin with a throw of 64.07 meters, while also placing third in the long jumps (7.51m) and the discus (45.35). Nyamadi's distance in the long jump ranks 32nd in the NCAA and second in Conference USA.
Nyamadi also competed in the pole vault (16th/3.75m), shot put (5th/13.76m) and the high jump (5th/2.00m).
"It was great when you can get three of the four and we are really happy with that," said Hayes. "They worked hard and competed very well, and it is the reward that they get for working hard."
Middle Tennessee continues competition at the Mt. SAC Relays and the APSU Invitational Saturday April 16.
Players Mentioned
XC/Dist.
/ Track & Field/Cross Country
XC/Dist.
/ Track & Field/Cross CountryMulti/Jumps
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