Tuesday, January 18, 2011

For the second time this season, Valparaiso senior Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) has been named the Horizon League Male Field Athlete of the Week, this time after posting a record-setting mark in the triple jump at the Bob Eubanks Open last weekend.

Mickens, who previously earned the league’s weekly accolade on Dec. 7 after Valpo’s first meet of the season, again earned the honor this week following the second meet of the indoor campaign.  The senior added nearly two feet to his indoor P.R. in the triple jump, leaping 48’2” for the event victory Friday.  Mickens’ mark broke a 35-year-old Crusader record in the event, surpassing Jeff Thomas’ mark of 46’9” from 1976, and is the best mark by a Horizon League athlete in the triple jump this year.

Mickens also had a good showing in the long jump Friday, matching his indoor P.R. of 22’1”, the fourth-best effort in program history, to finish third in the event.  With the weekly honor from the league office, the fourth overall of his career, Mickens is now eligible for voting for ‘The People’s Choice’ on the Horizon League Network, with the poll available on the Horizon League website Tuesday morning through mid-day Thursday.