Four ORU Track And Field Athletes Win Conference Awards

Oral Roberts track and field athletes Jack Whitt, Jeffery Gibson, Madison Reynolds and Lauren McFarland were named athletes of the week by the Southland conference.

Each athlete made impressive showings during the first two meets of the indoor season at the Bob Timmons Invitational, hosted by Kansas, and the Herm Wilson Classic, hosted by Wichita State.

A senior from Norman, Whitt out jumped the field in the pole vault at the meet in Wichita, flying over the bar with a height of 5.53 meters (18-1.75), winning the event by more than a foot. The defending outdoor national champion has now won the pole vault in nine consecutive collegiate events.

Gibson continues to make a statement during the early going of the 2012-13 season. Last week's victory in the 400 meter dash, with a time of 48.07, was his second this season. A native of the Bahamas, Gibson also was a part of the ORU 4x400 relay team that finished a top the medal stand.

Gibson earned the men's track athlete of the week award while Whitt picked up the men's field honor.

Winning the women's track athlete of the week award was the freshman Reynolds. After running for Douglass High School in Oklahoma City last season, Reynolds won her first event at the collegiate level, taking first in the 400 meter dash. She finished in second in the first meet of the season at Kansas.

Rounding out the sweep of the conference awards was the winner of the women's field athlete of the week, McFarland. A junior from Rio Vista, Texas, McFarland was the top collegiate finisher in the women's pole vault, clearing the bar at 3.80 meters (12-5.50).

The Golden Eagle track teams will take part in their next meet on Friday and Saturday as they head to Lincoln, Neb., for the Adidas Classic.