Hunter Peters/CAA

Classes are back in session, and CAA teams returned to the track this past weekend following a month off for winter break. The conference office announced its third edition of Indoor Track and Field weekly awards for the 2022-23 season. North Carolina A&T graduate sprinter Paula Salmon was named Women’s CAA Track Athlete of the Week, and UNCW senior jumper Courtney Lines was chosen as the Women’s CAA Field Athlete of the Week. Northeastern sophomore sprinter Ethan Exilhomme earned Men’s CAA Track Athlete of the Week honors, and a second Aggie, sophomore thrower Brayden Hodgest, collected Men’s CAA Field Athlete of the Week accolades. 

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Paula Salmon, North Carolina A&T

Graduate | Sprints / Hurdles | Brooklyn, N.Y. / Clara Barton

Salmon earned three event victories in her season opener at the HBCU Showcase Challenge, winning the 60m hurdles, 200m dash and was a member of the Aggies’ 4x200m relay squad. The All-American posted a league-leading time of 8.26 to win the 60m hurdles, which ranks 18th in the NCAA. She earned a first-place finish in the 200m with a time of 24.85 and helped the Aggies run 1:40.8 in the 4x200m relay. Her 200m time sits third in the conference this season.

 WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Courtney Lines, UNCW

Senior | Jumps | Leland, N.C. / North Brunswick

Lines opened her season victorious in the long jump at the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge. The senior jumper leaped to a mark of 6.05m (19-10.25) to earn a first-place finish. The jump ranks first in the CAA this season and is 22nd in the NCAA.  

MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ethan Exilhomme, Northeastern

Sophomore | Sprints / Hurdles | Tewksbury, Mass. / Timbercreek HS

Exilhomme set a program record in the 60m hurdles at the UMass Flagship Indoor Invitational with a winning time of 7.76. It is the conference’s fastest time in the event this season and is tied for the fifth-best mark in the NCAA. In addition, Exilhomme established a personal record in the 200m, recording a league-leading time of 21.73 to place second in the event.   

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Brayden Hodgest, North Carolina A&T

Sophomore | Throws | Fort Worth, Texas / White Settlement Brewer

Hodgest opened his season with a victory in the shot put at the HBCU Showcase Challenge. The sophomore thrower recorded a mark of 17.32m (56-10.00), the best indoor performance in his career, to earn a first-place finish. It is the top mark in the CAA this season and nearly one meter (0.80m) further than the next-best mark in the conference.  

Women’s Notes

Charleston – The Cougars opened their season at the Gamecock Opener hosted by South Carolina. Emily Dorony took second in the 800m with a time of 2:20.75, the fourth-best time in the conference this season … Delaware – The Blue Hens returned to the track for their second meet this season at the Lions Indoor Invitational. Hannah Lindgren won the 3000m, recording a personal-best time of 10:12.48 … Elon – The Phoenix was back in action at a pair of meets as the majority participated at the Mondo College Invitational, while the throwers went to the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge. Piper Jons was a part of three event victories, winning the 200m (25.28), 400m (56.63) and running the anchor leg of Elon’s 4x400m relay team (3:58.71) … Hampton – The Lady Pirates compete in their third meet of the season at the VMI Invitational. Dejah Grant earned a pair of first-place finishes, winning the 400m with a time of 56.39, which ranks fourth in the CAA, and running 1:14.09 in the 500m …  Monmouth – The Hawks returned to the track for their third meet this season at the UPenn Select. Ashley Navarro won the mile with a conference-leading time of 4:46.55. The time is over 15 seconds faster than the next-best in the CAA and ranks 25^th in the NCAA this season … North Carolina A&T – The Aggies opened their season at the HBCU Showcase Classic at the Armory in New York City. Jada Griffin and Ayoola Gbolade claimed victories in the 400m and 800m, respectively. The duo posted league-leading times in both events as Griffin ran 55.55 and Gbolade crossed in 2:13.58 … UNCW – The Seahawks began their season at the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge. Mackenzie Townsend joined Lines as an event winner, earning a first-place finish in the 200m (27.55) … Northeastern – The Huskies were back in action for their second meet this season at the UMass Flagship Invitational. Gianna Rao took first in the weight throw, recording a mark of 20.17m (66-02.25). She is the only student-athlete with a mark over 20m in the event this season, which she has accomplished in back-to-back meets …  Stony Brook – The Seawolves completed their third meet of the season, participating in the UPenn Select. Fiona McLoughlin posted the conference’s fastest time in the 3000m, finishing 9:33.69 for a new personal record. The mark is nearly 20 seconds faster than the conference’s next-best time … Towson – The Tigers competed for the first time in 2023 and second this season at the UPenn Select. Emmanuel Mevo won the triple jump in her first collegiate competition, recording a mark of 11.85m (38-10.5), which ranks third in the conference this season.

Men’s Notes

Hampton – The Pirates competed in their second competition of the New Year and third this season at the VMI Invitational. Dugion Blackmon won two events, posting a league-leading time of 48.01 in the 400m and setting a school record time of 1:01.68 in the 500m. His time in the 400m is 28^th in the NCAA this season … Monmouth – The Hawks participated in their third meet this winter at the UPenn Select. Louis DiLaurenzio earned a first-place finish in the mile, posting the conference’s top time in the event this season at 4:08.44 …  North Carolina A&T – The Aggies opened their 2022-23 campaign at the HBCU Showcase Challenge in the Big Apple. Reheem Hayles earned a first-place finish in the 500m, running 1:02.26 and was a part of the Aggies’ winning 4x400m relay team (3:16.51) … Northeastern – The Huskies returned to action at the UMass Flagship Invitational. Anders Narita finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 1:54.66 to rank third in the CAA … Stony Brook – The Seawolves were in action for the third time this season, competing at the UPenn Select. Robert Becker won the 3000m with a personal-best time of 8:07.31, which leads the CAA, and ranks 29^th in the NCAA this season.

2022-23 CAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

Women’s Track Athlete of the Week

Dec. 6: Piper Jons, Elon

Dec. 13: Jordyn McDonnell, Hofstra

Jan. 16: Paula Salmon, North Carolina A&T

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week

Dec. 6: Keeley Suzenski, William & Mary

Dec. 13: Gianna Rao, Northeastern

Jan. 16: Courtney Lines, UNCW

Men’s Track Athlete of the Week

Dec. 6: Jaheim Stern, Hampton

Jan. 16: Ethan Exilhomme, Northeastern

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week

Dec. 6: Mujeeb Ali, Monmouth

Dec. 13: Dalton Yeust, Monmouth

Jan. 16: Brayden Hodgest, North Carolina A&T

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