Islanders’ Johnson, Wildcats’ Anttila Tabbed Women’s Indoor Athletes of the Week
FRISCO, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Quin Johnson and Abilene Christian’s Ella Anttila are the Southland Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week, the league announced Wednesday. Southland weekly honors are presented by
Hercules Tires.
Johnson wasted no time finding success for the Islanders, pushing to a first-place finish in the 5,000-meter event at the Crimson & Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kan., over the weekend. The senior topped a field of nine runners on the way to a career-best finish, where she crossed the line for a 17:39.51. The Southland honor marks the first of Johnson’s career.
Anttila opened the 2021 indoor season with a third-place finish in the triple jump at the Texas Tech Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas. The junior concluded the weekend with a 12.89m (42-03.5) mark to earn a spot on the podium for the Wildcats. The weekly award also marks the first of Anttila’s Southland career.
Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week – Quin Johnson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Sr. – San Tan Valley, Ariz.
Johnson earned the first-place finish after posting a career-best 17:39.51 in the 5000-meter over the weekend at the Crimson & Gold Invitational in Pittsburg, Kan. Her 5,000-meter showing currently leads the conference and ranks 12th nationally.
Honorable Mention: Irene Rono, Abilene Christian; Kendelle McCoy, Central Arkansas; Shamarah Shannon, New Orleans; LeSean Davis, Stephen F. Austin.
Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week – Ella Anttila, Abilene Christian – Jr. – Helsinki, Finland
Anttila's third-place triple jump was a career-best by .71m (2-04) as her previous record of 12.18m (39-11.5) came a year ago at the Texas Tech Invitational. Her leap, which was .02 meters shy of second place, marks the first ACU measured triple jump over 12.80 meters since Amanda Ouedraogo in the 2013 season. Anttila’s effort now places her third all-time at Abilene Christian, behind Ouedraogo (13.11m) and Wildcat Hall of Famer Mazel Thomas (13.01m).
Honorable Mention: Taylor Coleman, Central Arkansas; Shanell Atkins, New Orleans, Kristin McDuffie, Northwestern State; Halie Daniel, Sam Houston; Nissi Kabongo, Stephen F. Austin.
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.