Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Macon, Ga. -- Her path to the top was a lonely one as Campbell's Alicia Valtin made a solo appearance for the Fighting Camels at the North Carolina Fast Times in Chapel Hill on Saturday. The journey was well worth it in the end as Valtin recorded two Atlantic Sun-leading times and was tabbed the A-Sun Athlete of the Week, league officials announced today.

Valtin, a senior elementary education major, turned in a second-place time of 9:55.64 in the 3000-meter run which established a new personal best and created a 22-second gap between the next fastest time reported to the conference this year. Her time was just over two seconds off of first place in the event.

In the mile, Valtin competed against a field of 33 and finished with a fourth-place time of 5:00.59. Her time in the event gives her more than a 10-second cushion atop the Atlantic Sun leader board. Valtin was bested by North Carolina State runners Julia Lucas (4:47.69) and Kris Roth (4:55.24), and Friederlike Feil (5:00.45) of former A-Sun member Florida Atlantic.

The honor is the first for Valtin during the track and field season but she is no stranger to A-Sun awards, having twice been named the conferences cross country Runner of the Year and three-time recipient of the cross country Runner of the Week award.

The Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week is announced every Wednesday during the 2007 indoor track season.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.

Other Top Performers:

• Janita Ocana, Jacksonville
[Sr. -- Jacksonville, Fla -- Communications & Music Business]
Recorded two A-Sun-leading finishing seventh in the 200-meter dash (24.91) and ninth in the 55-meter dash (7.11). Also recorded the leagues second longest mark in the long jump at 19-9 1/2 behind league-leading teammate and provisional qualifier, Natasha Harvey.

• Emily Kohler, North Florida
[Jr. -- Tallahassee, Fla -- Health Science]
Placed 10th as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team, 10th in the high jump (5-4 1/4; 1.63m), and finished 15th out of 33 in the long jump with her leap of 17-9 3/4 (5.43m).

• Dedra Jones, ETSU
[So. -- Tazewell, Va. -- Public Health]
Set a school record in the weight throw with her ninth-place toss of 47-9 (14.55m). The ninth place finish was her best of the season and her distance established a new school record, besting her own old record of 46-3 1/2 (14.11m) in the event.