Murray State University Athletics
MSU Track and Field Racks Up Another Weekly Honor
2/19/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
For the third consecutive week, a member of the Murray State women's track and field team was named Ohio Valley Conference track or field athlete of the week, as sophomore Taylor Crawford was honored with the co-track athlete of the week today.
Adding to the long list of first-time accomplishments and broken school records that the MSU track and field team has set this season, this marks the first time that Murray State has had a player represented on the OVC track and field weekly honor for three weeks in a row.
On the week ending Feb. 3, both Shameka Dial (field) and Katelyn Jones (track) were crowned with athlete of the week honors, the first time MSU had both the track and field athletes for the same week. For the week ending Feb. 10, Dial was named as field athlete of the week again, marking the first time in school history that a track and field athlete had won the honor in back-to-back weeks.
The Racers also have left their long-term mark on the program so far this season, breaking five school records in four meets.
Crawford, from Owensboro, finished third out of 23 runners in the 800-meter run at the Hoosier Hills Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. last Friday, running the course in 2:15.38. That time is the fastest time any OVC athlete has posted in the 800 meter run so far this season.
"Taylor has been a cornerstone for our program," MSU track and field head coach Dereck Chavis said. "Taylor is intrinsically motivated and has the goal to see how good she can become. Her work ethic and competitiveness has spurred her steady progress since her arrival here at Murray State. I am truly happy for her in that she was chosen as the athlete of the week."
The Racers will look to ride their hot streak through the rest of the regular season and into the OVC Indoor Championships, held on Feb. 29 at Tennessee State University in Nashville.
Before that though, the Racers have one more tune-up, competing this Friday (Feb. 22) at the SEMO Invitational in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
