FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Christopher Newport's Kurt Waller & Mary Washington's Ripken Smith were selected as the CAC Men's Track & Field Athletes of the Week for Feb. 12, 2019. The 2019 CAC Indoor Track & Field Championships take place this Friday & Saturday (Feb. 15-16) inside the Freeman Center on the campus of Christopher Newport University.
Track Athlete of the Week
Kurt Waller | Christopher Newport | Jr.
Gainesville, Va. | Battlefield
Christopher Newport Kurt Waller starred for the Captains during the David Hemery Valentine Invitational last weekend. On Saturday, he posted a time of 49.04 in the 400. That clocking stands as the fastest in the CAC this year and ranks 18th in the country. It also marks the top time by a Captain since 2007. On Friday, he also ran the 400-meter leg on the squad's Distance Medley Relay. Aided by Waller's time of 48.85, Christopher Newport's foursome finished the race in 10:09.64, which ranks as the second-fastest clocking in the NCAA this year.
Field Athlete of the Week
Ripken Smith | Mary Washington | Sr.
Stafford, Va. | Stafford
Mary Washington senior Ripken Smith was the top Division III finisher in placing fourth in the weight throw at the VMI Winter Relays, at 15.82 meters. Smith is now has the third best mark in the conference heading into the CAC Championships.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL (2/12):
FROSTBURG STATE: Matthew Warner, Fr., New Market, Md./Oakdale
SALISBURY: Alex Hardman, Sr., Pasadena, Md./North Caroline; Hunter McEntaffer, Fr., Snow Hill, Md./Snow Hill
YORK: Joshua Watson, So., Jumps, Glen Burnie, Md/Glen Burnie
NOTES AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Salisbury's Alex Hardman found his way into the record book twice this past weekend setting records as both an individual in the 500-meter run and in the 4x200-meter relay. Hardman captured the win in the 500-meter run coming home in a time of 1:06.64 breaking the previous mark set by Cory Beebe in 2010 and then tied last year by current teammate Ethan Binnix of 1:06.96. Hardman also aided in the 4x200-meter relay helping the team break the school record and earn the victory. The team of Jack McCloskey, Mickey Van Gieson, Alex Hardman, and Ethan Binnix posted a time of 1:31.73 to break their own record, which they set earlier this season when they posted a mark of 1:32.79...Salisbury's Hunter McEntaffer turned in a solid performance at the Eastern Shore Combined Events Meet this past weekend posting two fifth-place finishes. McEntaffer posted a fifth-place finish in the weight throw, recording a toss of 27' 7.25." He would also go on to finish fifth in the shot put as well after a throw of 36' 10.5."...York's Joshua Watson had a good weekend at the Dickinson DuCharme Invitational on Sunday in Carlisle. Watson finished third in the long jump with a best distance of 6.24 meters (20' 5.75"). He then placed fifth in the triple jump with a best leap of 12.36 meters (40' 6.75")...Frostburg first-year Matthew Warner led the way for the Bobcats with fifth place in the shot put in 10.57 meters (34ft. 8.25in.) at the DuCharme Invitational at Dickinson...In the long jump, Mary Washington's sophomore Rajai Walton took third overall and first among Division III jumpers at 22 feet, 6.5 inches. David Danek and Ben Onguene took fourth and fifth in the high jump as the top two Division III leapers at six feet, 2.25 inches.
2018-19 CAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK