PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly indoor track and field honors of the 2017-18 season for the weeks ending on December 3 and December 10.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Davon DeMoss * Jr. * Memphis * Jackson, Tenn.
DeMoss opened his 2017-18 indoor track season with a pair of first-place finishes at the Vanderbilt Opener on December 2. The junior sprinter clocked a time of 6.69 in the 60m dash for a first place-finish. His mark was 0.02 second off from his school record (6.67) set last season and ranks first in The American and third in the nation. He also ran the lead-leg in the 4x400m relay to guide his team to first place with a time of 3:13.19.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Cera Chavez * So. * Memphis * Los Lunas, N.M.
Chavez opened her 2017-18 campaign with a record-setting mark at the Vanderbilt Opener. She won the crown in the 60m dash with a time of 7.39, which ranks No. 3 in the NCAA. Her time broke Memphis’ previous school record of 7.50 set in 2010. She also ran the opening leg in the 4x400m relay to help her team to finishing second place with a time of 3:50.54.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Hunter Veith * Sr. * Wichita State * Cheney, Kansas
Veith posted a strong start to his senior year at the Shocker Multi from November 30-December 1. He won the heptathlon with a score of 6,023, breaking both Wichita State’s and the Heskett Center’s records. His mark is also the current nation-leading heptathlon score. His long jump distance of 7.58m (24-10.5) is second in the league and fourth in the NCAA, while his high jump (8.10) also ranks second in the conference.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Annette Echikunwoke * Sr. * Cincinnati * Pickerington, Ohio
Echikunwoke, who is the reigning NCAA weight throw champion, carried the momentum into this year placing No. 1 in both the NCAA and The American with a toss of 23.15m for a first place title at the Hoosier Open on December 9. She also placed second in the meet with a shot put throw of 16.71m. Both her marks shattered the Bearcats’ records, while her weight throw ranks seventh all-time in NCAA history. Her shot put distance is ranked first in the league and No. 2 in the NCAA.