COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior Kearsten Peoples has become the first National Athlete of the Week for the Tigers, as announced by the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) on Tuesday, February 24. This honor comes after yet another record-breaking weekend for Peoples in the weight throw, as she regained her top position on the NCAA leaderboard in the event with a new PR of 22.84m (74-11.25). Not only does she now lead the rest of the nation by nearly two feet, Peoples also finds herself in the Collegiate All-Time Top Ten, falling in the No. 7 position.
Peoples is one of two Mizzou athletes to fall in the NCAA's All-Time Top Ten, joining 2000 grad Derrick Peterson, who currently owns the No. 4 time in collegiate history in the 800m run (1:45.88).
The award, which began during the 2013 indoor season, recognizes those exceptional performances that are significant on the national landscape. It comes on the eve of the SEC Indoor Championships, set in Lexington, Ky., on Friday and Saturday (February 27 - 28). The women enter the weekend at No. 20 in the NCAA, according to the most recent USTFCCCA rankings. This season marked the first time the women had broken into the top 15 of the national rankings, after they earned a No. 13 spot earlier in the season. They have consistently stayed within the top 25 since, making this the best season for the team in the national rankings.
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