ALVA, Okla. – Keiazyiah Young became the first Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's track and field athlete to be named the Blue Sky Media/NWOSU Female Athlete of the Month.
The Northwestern coaches selected Young and Male Athlete of the Month Johnnuelle Ponce for their accomplishments during March, it was announced on Monday.
Young has had great Spring so far in the Inaugural NCAA season for women's track and field at Northwestern. Young has several top 20 performance marks in the Great American Conference this season, including the fourth best mark in the conference in the triple jump entering this past weekend's competition, a mark she past Friday evening at the SCU/Paul Parent Invitational.
Not only does the freshman standout as a jumper, but also as a sprinter. Young had marks inside the top 20 in the GAC in the 100-meter (12.70) at the ESU Spring Twilight and the 400-meter (1:02.36) at the OBU Early Invite.
While it wasn't a factor in the March award, Young finished second in the triple jump behind teammate Cayla Smither this past weekend. She also finished inside the top ten in the long jump, and set a new personal record in the 100-meter dash to finish eighth.
Ponce has won the March Male Athlete of the Month award for the second time in as many years. The Northwestern centerfielder led the Rangers in 17 games during the month with a .381 average while reaching base in each contest.
The senior also led the team with five homeruns and 15 runs batted in, while also record four double and two triples.
A native of Vierques, Puerto Rico, Ponce is currently leading the league with 11 home runs, second in the GAC with a .692 slugging percentage and 90 total bases, fourth with 39 runs batted in and eighth with 36 runs scored.
The Athlete of the Month awards are voted on by the Northwestern head coaches, representatives of Blue Sky Media and NWOSU Athletic Communications Staff.
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