LAKE CHARLES – After a record-breaking performance in the pentathlon last Thursday at the Samford Multis, McNeese's Grace McKenzie has been voted as this week's Southland Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Week, announced by the league office on Wednesday.
 
MKenzie racked up 4,211 points in the pentathlon, a number that broke her own school record while snapping a 13-year old Southland Conference mark. In addition, she set a new Irish National record and is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the world.
 
In large part to her performance, the Cowgirl indoor track and field team is ranked No. 56 in this week's USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Ratings Index, the highest among the Southland Conference schools.
 
While racking up here point total, the junior from Cork, Ireland set a new school record in the high jump with a mark of 5-feet, 8 ½-inches as well as setting a new personal record in the shot put at 37-7.75.
 
In the Southland Conference rankings, McKenzie is No. 1 in the pentathlon, second in the high jump and 800-meters, and third in the 60-meter hurdles and long jump.
 
McKenzie will not compete in this week's McNeese Indoor II meet but will return to action on Feb. 2 when she takes part in the Meyo Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.
 
Stephen F. Austin's middle distance runner Cayla Burch was named the women's track athlete of the week while on the men's side, SFA middle-distance runner Drake Murphy and pole vaulter Antonio Ruiz garnered men's honors.
 
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school's sports information director. Voting for one's own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on at least 25 percent of ballots.