TicketsCINCINNATI - The first weekly awards of the 2017-18 indoor track and field season have been announced by the American Athletic Conference today with University of Cincinnati senior thrower Annette Echikunwoke earning this week's AAC Female Field Athlete of the Week. Echikunwoke, the defending national champion in the weight throw, had another stellar opening weekend at the Hoosier Open as she smashed both school records in the weight throw and shot put to move to the top of the national rankings.
// BIG THROWS
It didn't take Echikunwoke long to destroy her own school record in the weight throw as the senior's second attempt of the Hoosier Open sailed out to 23.15m (75-11.50), breaking her previous mark of 22.69m (74-05.50) by 1' 6". She wasn't done there, however, as she launched three more marks of 22.00m or better, including tossed of 22.98m, 22.96m and 22.02m to give her four marks of 22m+ on the day. Last year, she led the nation with six throws of 22m or better while the rest of the nation combined for six more.
Her winning weight throw mark also brought about more historical facts. First, she became the seventh woman in NCAA history to break the 23m mark as her 23.15m measurement stands as the #7 mark in NCAA history. When counting multiple marks for the same throwers, her 23.15m ranks as the #15 throw in NCAA history as well. The mark stands as an American Athletic Conference record as well.
With the weight throw competition over, Echikunwoke then took part in the shot put and finished second in the meet with a best of 16.72m (54-10.25), which broke Frida Akerstrom's record from 2015 of 16.00m (52-06.00). Echikunwoke entered the season with a best of 15.99m (52-05.50) that she threw last year, leaving her 1cm shy of the record. Her new best of 16.72m also ranks as an AAC indoor record and sits just behind her overall conference record of 16.79m that she threw outdoors last year.
Following all meets this weekend, Echikunwoke found her name near the top of the rankings in the NCAA as she currently ranks #1 in the weight throw and #2 in the shot put. According to compilation of all marks by the USTFCCCA and their weekly Top 10 marks, Echikunwoke's shot put toss was #2 this week while her series of throws in the weight throw produced the #1, #2, #3, #4 and #9 marks across all divisions last week.
// COLLEGIATE TOP 10
Here is a look at the updated Top 10 marks in NCAA women's weight throw history:
// ADDING AWARDS
With this week's accolade, Echikunwoke has now earned six indoor honors from the American and seven total. Last year, Echikunwoke was selected as the female field athlete of the week on December 13, January 24 and January 31 after earning the same honor during the 2016 season twice (February 9 and February 16).
// IN THE BLOCKS
The Bearcats are currently on their holiday break and will return to action in 2018 when they travel to Lexington, Ky., for the Kentucky Invitational. The meet will take place at Nutter Field House on the UK campus January 12-13.
// BIG THROWS
It didn't take Echikunwoke long to destroy her own school record in the weight throw as the senior's second attempt of the Hoosier Open sailed out to 23.15m (75-11.50), breaking her previous mark of 22.69m (74-05.50) by 1' 6". She wasn't done there, however, as she launched three more marks of 22.00m or better, including tossed of 22.98m, 22.96m and 22.02m to give her four marks of 22m+ on the day. Last year, she led the nation with six throws of 22m or better while the rest of the nation combined for six more.
Her winning weight throw mark also brought about more historical facts. First, she became the seventh woman in NCAA history to break the 23m mark as her 23.15m measurement stands as the #7 mark in NCAA history. When counting multiple marks for the same throwers, her 23.15m ranks as the #15 throw in NCAA history as well. The mark stands as an American Athletic Conference record as well.
With the weight throw competition over, Echikunwoke then took part in the shot put and finished second in the meet with a best of 16.72m (54-10.25), which broke Frida Akerstrom's record from 2015 of 16.00m (52-06.00). Echikunwoke entered the season with a best of 15.99m (52-05.50) that she threw last year, leaving her 1cm shy of the record. Her new best of 16.72m also ranks as an AAC indoor record and sits just behind her overall conference record of 16.79m that she threw outdoors last year.
Following all meets this weekend, Echikunwoke found her name near the top of the rankings in the NCAA as she currently ranks #1 in the weight throw and #2 in the shot put. According to compilation of all marks by the USTFCCCA and their weekly Top 10 marks, Echikunwoke's shot put toss was #2 this week while her series of throws in the weight throw produced the #1, #2, #3, #4 and #9 marks across all divisions last week.
// COLLEGIATE TOP 10
Here is a look at the updated Top 10 marks in NCAA women's weight throw history:
| 1. | Brittany Riley | Southern Illinois | 2007 | 25.56m |
| 2. | Candice Scott | Florida | 2005 | 24.17m |
| 3. | Jenny Dahlgren | Georgia | 2006 | 24.04m |
| 4. | Jeneva McCall | Southern Illinois | 2012 | 23.76m |
| 5. | Felisha Johnson | Indiana State | 2013 | 23.52m |
| 6. | Jeneah Stewart | Mississippi | 2017 | 23.18m |
| 7. | Annette Echikunwoke | Cincinnati | 2018 | 23.15m |
| 8. | Kim Barrett | Florida | 2004 | 22.95m |
| 9. | Kearsten Peoples | Missouri | 2015 | 22.84m |
| 10. | Jen Leatherman | Penn State | 2006 | 22.82m |
// ADDING AWARDS
With this week's accolade, Echikunwoke has now earned six indoor honors from the American and seven total. Last year, Echikunwoke was selected as the female field athlete of the week on December 13, January 24 and January 31 after earning the same honor during the 2016 season twice (February 9 and February 16).
// IN THE BLOCKS
The Bearcats are currently on their holiday break and will return to action in 2018 when they travel to Lexington, Ky., for the Kentucky Invitational. The meet will take place at Nutter Field House on the UK campus January 12-13.