TicketsCINCINNATI - For the first time in program history, a member of the University of Cincinnati track and field program has been honored with a national weekly award as Annette Echikunwoke has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Women's Athlete of the Week for the week of February 12-18. Echikunwoke, the reigning NCAA indoor weight throw champion, had another stellar week in the ring as she moved higher up several all-time lists with her marks at the Buckeye Tune-Up Friday.
A native of nearby Pickerington, Ohio, Echikunwoke took to the ring inside French Fieldhouse in Columbus and put together a solid series of throws that saw her record the #1, #2, #3 and #6 marks of the week across the nation with her best of 24.78m (81-03.75) placing her among the best all-time. Not only did her mark beat every mark recorded at the USATF Indoor Championships in New Mexico that same weekend, it also placed her second all-time in NCAA history with the fourth-best mark ever recorded by a collegiate competitor. Only the second woman to record a mark of 80' or better, Echikunwoke also moved up into a tie for third on the all-time world list.
Since her sophomore season, Echikunwoke has continued to break the UC record in the event with the two-time All-American bettering her mark at least three times each of the past three seasons. Looking back to her first collegiate competition, which also was the first time she had competed in the weight throw, she threw 17.28m (56-08.50). As of Friday and her big toss of 24.78m, Echikunwoke has improved her PR by 24' 5.25" since that first competition.
Echikunwoke and her teammates will travel to Birmingham, Ala., this weekend to compete in the 2018 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships inside the CrossPlex Friday and Saturday. Echikunwoke will look to capture her third-consecutive weight throw crown at the league meet as the Bearcats try to win their first indoor conference title in women's program history.
Echikunwoke in the UC Record Book
Freshman - 18.31m (60-01.00) - UC #2
Sophomore - 21.57m (70-09.25) - UC Record
Junior - 22.69m (74-05.50) - UC Record
Senior - 24.78m (81-03.75) - UC Record
Echikunwoke on the NCAA All-Time Top 10
1. Brittany Riley (Southern Illinois) - 25.56m (83-10.25) - 3/10/07
2. Annette Echikunwoke (Cincinnati) - 24.78m (81-03.75) - 2/16/18
3. Candice Scott (Florida) - 24.17m (79-03.75) - 3/12/05
4. Janeah Stewart (Ole Miss) - 24.12m (79-01.75) - 2/10/18
5. Jenny Dahlgren (Georgia) - 24.04m (78-10.50) - 3/10/06
6. Jeneva McCall (Southern Illinois) - 23.76m (77-11.50) - 1/13/12
7. Felisha Johnson (Indiana State) - 23.52m (77-02.00) - 3/8/13
8. Kaitlyn Long (Minnesota) - 23.14m (75-11.00) - 2/17/18
9. Kim Barrett (Florida) - 22.95m (75-03.50) - 3/12/04
10. Kearsten Peoples (Missouri) - 22.84m (74-11.25) - 2/20/15
Echikunwoke in the NCAA All-Time Top 5 Performances
1. Riley (SIU) - 25.56m (83-10.25) - 3/10/07
2. Riley (SIU) - 25.34m (83-01.75) - 3/14/08
3. Riley (SIU) - 25.05m (82-02.25) - 3/10/07
4. Echikunwoke (CIN) - 24.78m (81-03.75) - 2/16/18
5. Riley (SIU) - 24.57m (80-07.50) - 1/27/07
A native of nearby Pickerington, Ohio, Echikunwoke took to the ring inside French Fieldhouse in Columbus and put together a solid series of throws that saw her record the #1, #2, #3 and #6 marks of the week across the nation with her best of 24.78m (81-03.75) placing her among the best all-time. Not only did her mark beat every mark recorded at the USATF Indoor Championships in New Mexico that same weekend, it also placed her second all-time in NCAA history with the fourth-best mark ever recorded by a collegiate competitor. Only the second woman to record a mark of 80' or better, Echikunwoke also moved up into a tie for third on the all-time world list.
Since her sophomore season, Echikunwoke has continued to break the UC record in the event with the two-time All-American bettering her mark at least three times each of the past three seasons. Looking back to her first collegiate competition, which also was the first time she had competed in the weight throw, she threw 17.28m (56-08.50). As of Friday and her big toss of 24.78m, Echikunwoke has improved her PR by 24' 5.25" since that first competition.
Echikunwoke and her teammates will travel to Birmingham, Ala., this weekend to compete in the 2018 American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships inside the CrossPlex Friday and Saturday. Echikunwoke will look to capture her third-consecutive weight throw crown at the league meet as the Bearcats try to win their first indoor conference title in women's program history.
Echikunwoke in the UC Record Book
Freshman - 18.31m (60-01.00) - UC #2
Sophomore - 21.57m (70-09.25) - UC Record
Junior - 22.69m (74-05.50) - UC Record
Senior - 24.78m (81-03.75) - UC Record
Echikunwoke on the NCAA All-Time Top 10
1. Brittany Riley (Southern Illinois) - 25.56m (83-10.25) - 3/10/07
2. Annette Echikunwoke (Cincinnati) - 24.78m (81-03.75) - 2/16/18
3. Candice Scott (Florida) - 24.17m (79-03.75) - 3/12/05
4. Janeah Stewart (Ole Miss) - 24.12m (79-01.75) - 2/10/18
5. Jenny Dahlgren (Georgia) - 24.04m (78-10.50) - 3/10/06
6. Jeneva McCall (Southern Illinois) - 23.76m (77-11.50) - 1/13/12
7. Felisha Johnson (Indiana State) - 23.52m (77-02.00) - 3/8/13
8. Kaitlyn Long (Minnesota) - 23.14m (75-11.00) - 2/17/18
9. Kim Barrett (Florida) - 22.95m (75-03.50) - 3/12/04
10. Kearsten Peoples (Missouri) - 22.84m (74-11.25) - 2/20/15
Echikunwoke in the NCAA All-Time Top 5 Performances
1. Riley (SIU) - 25.56m (83-10.25) - 3/10/07
2. Riley (SIU) - 25.34m (83-01.75) - 3/14/08
3. Riley (SIU) - 25.05m (82-02.25) - 3/10/07
4. Echikunwoke (CIN) - 24.78m (81-03.75) - 2/16/18
5. Riley (SIU) - 24.57m (80-07.50) - 1/27/07