Track Athlete of the Week
Christopher Kirksey, Mount Olive

A junior from Richmond, Virginia, Christopher Kirksey produced the fastest time in Conference Carolinas in the 400 meters while competing at the VMI Invitational.

Kirksey recorded a season-best time of 48.80 seconds in the 400 meters to place second overall, which ranks third all-time in program history. Kirksey also competed in the 4x400 relay, which placed fourth overall with a time of 3:24.03.

Kirksey has claimed weekly honors from Conference Carolinas in back-to-back weeks. 

Field Athlete of the Week
Alex Smith-Fort’e, Mount Olive

A senior thrower, Alex Smith-Fort'e claimed first place in the weight throw and improved his NCAA Standard with a distance of 18.55 meters (60-10.50 feet) on his final attempt at the VMI Invite.

Smith-Fort'e holds a top-25 mark in NCAA Division II in the event and remains the top performer in the Southeast Region this indoor season. It also marks back-to-back event wins in the weight throw after collecting the victory at the Finn Pincus Invitational last week.

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards

Week 5 (Jan. 30, 2024)

Track Athlete of the Week: Christopher Kirksey, Mount Olive

Field Athlete of the Week: Alex Smith-Fort’e, Mount Olive

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Track Athlete of the Week
Chianel Asoburuenwu, Mount Olive

A sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina, Chianel Asoburuenwu delivered the fastest times in Conference Carolinas in the 60-meter dash and 200 meters over the weekend at the VMI Invitational. 

This past Friday, Asoburuenwu hit an NCAA Standard with a blistering pace of 7.57 seconds in the 60-meter dash to place second overall in the semifinals of the event. The following day, she finished runner-up in the finals of the 60m after crossing the line with a time of 7.61 seconds. 

In the 200m, Asoburuenwu set a personal-best time of 25.01 seconds to finish second in Virginia. She ranks among the top three in the Southeast Region in both events this season.

This is the second weekly honor of the season for Asoburuenwu.

Field Athlete of the Week
Karla Hormazabal, Mount Olive

A native of Orlando, Florida, Karla Hormazabal became the new UMO record holder in the indoor triple jump while competing at the VMI Invitational. 

The junior eclipsed the school record and set an NCAA Standard in the triple jump with a distance of 11.85 meters (38-10.50 feet) on her final attempt to place second overall in the event. Hormazabal boasts the second-best mark in Conference Carolinas following this past weekend. Additionally, she improved her league qualifying mark in the long jump after reaching 5.31 meters (17-5.25 feet).

This is the second weekly honor of the 2023-24 campaign for Hormazabal.

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Women’s Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards

Week 5 (Jan. 30, 2024)

Track Athlete of the Week: Chianel Asoburuenwu, Mount Olive

Field Athlete of the Week: Karla Hormazabal, Mount Olive

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Wrestler of the Week
Gabe Hixenbaugh, Montevallo

A fifth-year student-athlete from Alabaster, Alabama, Gabe Hixenbaugh of Montevallo won both of his matches last week to improve to 19-0 on the season at 133 pounds. 

In picking up the two wins, Hixenbaugh secured his eighth tech fall and fourth fall win of the season. He defeated Hernand Pinto of Lincoln Memorial by fall in 2:35. He also bested King's Franky Medina by tech fall, 18-1, in 5:43.

Hixenbaugh has claimed weekly honors twice this season. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Wrestling Weekly Awards

Week 11 (Jan. 30, 2024)

Wrestler of the Week: Gabe Hixenbaugh, Montevallo

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.