Murray State University Athletics
Dial Named OVC Field Athlete of the Week For Second Consecutive Week
2/12/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Records have been coming and going this season for the Murray State women's track and field team, as senior thrower Shameka Dial was named Ohio Valley Conference female field athlete of the week today, marking the first time in school history that one individual has been named track or field athlete in back-to-back weeks.
Dial, from Murray, shared last week's field athlete of the week honor with Tanesha Campbell of Tennessee State. Last week also marked the first time in school history that Murray State had both the track (freshman Katelyn Jones) and field athletes of the week in the same week.
At the McDonald's Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. this past weekend, Dial racked up two top-6 finishes in the events she participated in. Dial finished in second place out of 21 competitors in the weight throw with a toss of 56'02"00, and also placed sixth out of 23 competitors in the shot put, with a personal best mark of 44'09.75". Both throws rank among the top four performances in the OVC this season.
"I'm very proud of Shameka," MSU head track and field coach Dereck Chavis said. "I'm glad that she was able to have this success, because she has worked so hard to allow herself to be in this position."
Chavis hopes the recent success of Dial and the rest of the track and field team persists for the rest of the indoor season.
"I hope Shameka continues to progress and improve, and this momentum carries over into the OVC Championships," Chavis said.
The women hit the track again this Friday, when they will travel to Bloomington, Ind. for the Hoosier Hills Invitational, hosted by Indiana University.
