Athlete of the Week - No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mariah Toussaint of Midland (Neb.) has been named NAIA National Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and Tamala Daley of Shorter (Ga.) has been tabbed as the NAIA National Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Toussaint and Daley were selected based on their performances from Jan. 2 – 8. The honor marks the second indoor weekly for Daley in her career. She also received the honor on Feb. 9, 2011.

Toussaint, a native of Stafford, Va., won two individual events and placed second in another at the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic, hosted by Doane in Crete, Neb., on Jan. 7. Toussaint recorded a time of 7.4 seconds to win the 55-meter dash and a time of 1:00.18 in claiming first place in the 400-meter dash. Her second-place high jump of 5’ 4 ½” was an NAIA automatic qualifying measurement.

Daley, a native of Stone Mountain, Ga., shined at the Ohio State Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 6. She finished in fourth place in the long jump while competing against a field loaded with NCAA Division I competition. Her jump measured at 18’ 11 ¼” which is a NAIA season-leading figure for the long jump.

The next Athletes of the Week will be announced on Jan. 18.

Track Nominees: Ebonie Butler, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Tyler Sloan, Baker (Kan.); Ashley Ballard, Shorter (Ga.); Jillian Ourada, Doane (Neb.).

Field Nominees: Rachel Luehrs, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Alicia Dorko, Aquinas (Mich.); Alyssa McDowell, Doane (Neb.).

2012 Composite Award Winners (Track; Field) (Schedule)
Week 1: Mariah Toussaint, Midland (Neb.); Tamala Daley, Shorter (Ga.)