USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week (Apr. 6)
NEW ORLEANS -- Rising not only to the top of the NCAA Division II ranks this season, but also top five in DII history in the event, an impressive long jump at the
APU Invitational led
Marie-Jeanne Ourega to be named DII National Athlete of the Week as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Tuesday.
Surpassing the Outdoor Nationals automatic qualifying standard in her first long jump attempt, Ourega soared to a 21-7.25 (6.58m) distance which put her fourth among all-conditions marks in the history of NCAA DII. The mark, which did carry a +2.1 wind, put her first in the nation by more than eight inches and remains second in program history. A busy day for the native of L'Haÿ-les-Roses, France saw her first triple jump of the season hit the Outdoor Nationals provisional standard at 39-4.5 (12.00m) and slotted her in at fifth in ART U history. Finally, anchoring the 4x100m relay, the Communications & Media Technologies major contributed to a time of 46.59 for another Outdoor Nationals provisional and the sixth-fastest mark in NCAA DII this season.
This is the first USTFCCCA DII National Athlete of the Week honor for Ourega and the first time a member of the Academy of Art women's track & field roster other than multi-time Hall of Famer
Vashti Thomas has done so.
