BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Mississippi College Track and Field is proud to announce that five exceptional athletes have been named Gulf South Conference (GSC) Performers of the Week. This outstanding achievement highlights the dedication, talent, and hard work of each athlete as well as the strength and depth of the Mississippi College Track and Field program. The recognition comes at an opportune time, as the athletes prepare to compete in the 2023 Gulf South Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, to be held from Thursday, May 4 through Saturday, May 6 at Lee University.
The athletes honored with this prestigious award include:
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Cole Benoit - Men's Track Athlete of the Week At the Mike McMillan Invitational, Cole achieved an impressive NCAA Division II provisional mark and GSC #1 in the Men's 1500m run with a time of 3:45.2, ranking him 16th in the nation. In addition, Benoit paced the Men's 800m run later that evening.
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Al Ferrill - Men's Field Athlete of the Week Al secured three victories at the Mike McMillan Invitational, triumphing in Shot Put, Hammer, and Discus. In Shot Put, Ferrill achieved an NCAA provisional mark, GSC #1, and a school record with a throw of 16.63 meters, placing him 39th nationally in the event.
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Kelechi Christian - Women's Track Athlete of the Week Kelechi excelled in the Women's 400-meter dash at the Mike McMillan Twilight Invitational, claiming victory with a GSC #1, NCAA DII provisional mark, and school record time of 54.87 seconds, which ranks within the top 20 nationally. Additionally, Christian achieved another NCAA DII provisional mark in the 200m, posting a time of 24.21 seconds and securing the 47th position nationally.
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Alana Green - Women's Freshman of the Week Alana achieved two lifetime bests in the Women's 100m and 200m dashes at the Mike McMillan Invitational. She won the fast section of the 100m dash with a time of 11.98 seconds and finished as the top freshman in the 200m with a time of 24.63 seconds. Green now ranks within the top 8 and as the No. 2 freshman in both the 100m and 200m events. Over the weekend, she was also the top-performing freshman in the GSC for these events.
- Essence Tornabene - Women's Field Athlete of the Week Essence emerged victorious in the Women's Hammer Throw at the Mike McMillan Invitational with a throw of 50.01 meters. She also secured a top-five finish in the Discus event, reaffirming her position as one of the premier throwers in the GSC.
The college looks forward to celebrating more successes in the future as these talented athletes continue to represent Mississippi College in regional and national competitions, starting with the 2023 Gulf South Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
