FRISCO, Texas – McNeese Cowboy sprinter Jalon White and Cowgirl high jumper Sakari Famous have been named this week's Southland Conference Men's Track and Women's Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, the league office announced on Wednesday. Southland weekly awards are presented by GEICO.
 
This past weekend at the LSU Battle on the Border, White set a personal record with the second-fastest time in school history in the 400-meters, crossing the finish line at 46.39. He also ran the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay with his split time coming in at 44.66 to lead the Cowboys to the first place finish and beating teams such as Mississippi State, Southern, ULL and Texas State.
 
Tyler Challis was named men's field honorable mention for the week after a fourth place finish in the hammer throw and ninth in the discus.
 
Famous set a new McNeese school record in the women's high jump with a clearing of 5-11.25 to capture first place. The new record, which ranks tied as the fifth-best jump in Southland Conference history, beat out the old mark of 5-10.75 set in 2007.
 
Distance runner Irene Barreiro-Lopez picked up women's track weekly honorable mention accolades following a third place finish in the 800-meters where she produced a personal record time of 2:13.35 and moving into the No. 2 spot in the league rankings for the event.
 
Currently in the rankings, Famous is No. 1 in the SLC, No. 6 in the South Central Region, 7^th in the NCAA East and 12^th overall in the NCAA.
 
White is ranked No. 2 in the SLC in the 400m while the 4x400 relay team is first. He's also 6^th in the NCAA East in the 400m and 16^th in the 4x400, and 23^rd nationally in the 400 and 41^st in the relay.
 
This is the second men's track honor for the Cowboys this outdoor season and also the second Cowgirls' field honor. Cowboy sprinter Samuel Gray and Cowgirl javelin thrower Blanche Beard both earned the award in week one of the season.