Horizon League Announces Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week (Feb 14)
The Horizon League has announced Detroit Mercy’s Ben Kendell as Men’s Runner of the Week and Youngstown State’s Amaldo Morales as Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.
Ben Kendell/Detroit Mercy/Junior/Distance/Huntington Woods, Mich.
Titan’s Ben Kendell won the 5,000m at the GVSU Big Meet on Friday night. He lowered his all-time Titan record in the event to 14:10.10, the fastest indoor 5k in the Horizon League since Callum Hawkins of Butler in February of 2012. Kendell earned the gold medal in a field of more than 180 competitors.
This is the first Runner of the Week honor that Kendell has received this season.
Amaldo Morales/Youngstown State /Senior/Jumps/Struthers, Ohio
Morales won his second straight high jump event, clearing 2.11m on his final effort after clearing 2.06m in his first couple attempts. The Senior finished 1st among 20 competitors and help lead the Penguins to a successful showing at the SPIRE Division I Invitational.
This is the first Field Athlete of the Week honor that Morales has received this season.
The Horizon League has announced Oakland’s Chanel Gardner as Women’s Runner of the Week and Milwaukee’s Melissa Kirchoff as Women’s Field Athlete of the Week
Chanel Gardner/Oakland/Freshman/400M/Westland, Mich.
The Tiffin Dragon Invite awarded Chanel Gardner as the first place finisher in the 400m event with a time of 59.41. Gardner finished 1st/48 at the Heminger Center and helped lead the Golden Grizzlies to one of three efficient turnouts on the weekend.
This is the first Runner of the Week honor that Gardner has received this season.
Melissa Kirchoff/Milwaukee /Junior/Jumps/Franklin, Wis.
Kirchoff competed in three events at the GVSU Invite. With a distance of 11.99, the junior recorded a new person record in triple jump against an elite field that now ranks 1st in Horizon League and 6th in UWM history. Kirchoff additionally recorded a season best in the long jump with a distance of 5.70m, placing her 2nd/43 in the event. On top of her field accomplishments, Kirchoff’s 60mH mark in the meet also resulted in a personal record and ranks 2nd in the Horizon League and 2nd in UWM history.
This is the second Field Athlete of the Week honor that Kirchoff has received this season.
