April 15, 2008

IRVING, Texas - Conference USA has named Susan King and Blessing Okagbare of UTEP as its co-females Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, while Bubba Heard of Rice captured male athletes of the week honors.

C-USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD NOTEBOOK and TOP PERFORMANCES

Okagbare recorded the NCAA top mark of 13.81m (45-03.75") in the women's triple jump, while King qualified for NCAA regional action in two events, including a throw of 17.53m (57-06.25") in the shot put that currently ranks second-best in the nation.

Heard wrapped up the weekend with the 16th best time in the NCAA in the men's 200m (20.93). This is Heard and King's first C-USA Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week honor. Okagbare, a transfer, also earned the award on April 1.

C-USA MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

BUBBA HEARD, RICE
Senior, 200m, Sinton, Texas
Heard clocked the 16th-best time in the NCAA and a C-USA Top Performance of 20.93 seconds en route to winning the 200m at the TSU Quadrangular in Houston. His time was also a career-best by the senior. Heard also ran a leg on the Owls winning 4x100 relay that finished in a time of 41.04.

C-USA CO-FEMALES ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

SUSAN KING, MEMPHIS
Senior, Shot Put & Discus, League City, Texas
King registered two NCAA regional qualifying marks en route to establishing a pair of school records at the Sea Ray Relays. She won the discus throw with a mark of 49.46m (162-03"), followed by placing second in the shot put with a distance of 17.53m (57-06.25"), both NCAA regional qualifying throws. King's shot put performance tops the league's charts by more than five feet and ranks second in the nation.

BLESSING OKAGBARE, UTEP
Sophomore, Triple Jump, Nigeria
Okagbare achieved a mark of 13.81m (45-03.75") to win the triple jump competition at the UTEP Invitational. Okagbare's mark is the best in the NCAA and seventh on the world list for 2008.

2008 C-USA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
March 25
Male - Jason Colwick, Rice
Female - Desarie Walwyn, Rice

April 1
Male - Mickael Hanany, UTEP
Female - Blessing Okagbare, UTEP

April 8
Male - Steffen Nerdel, Memphis
Female - Silje Fjortoft, SMU

April 15
Male - Bubba Heard, Rice
Female - Susan King, Memphis & Blessing Okagbare, UTEP