Outdoor track & field athletes
Ala Small and
Jayden Thomas were named IUP Athletes of the Week, announced by the sports information office Monday morning.
This is the third edition of the IUP weekly awards announced following the cancellation of spring sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic March 13.
Despite the cancellation of spring sports, IUP Athlete of the Week honors will continue through the rest of the semester, highlighting student-athletes and how they've transitioned in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Softball's Hope Jones and baseball's Colin Williams were featured March 30 and golf's Jeremy Eckenrode and lacrosse's Jordan Kulp were featured last week.
Ala Small is pursuing a master's degree in human resources and employment relations and boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She hails from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and graduated from Punxsutawney Area High School.
"I think the biggest challenge for our team is the discouragement of not being able to showcase our fitness and not being able to work out together to motivate and support one another," said Small.
"Luckily, we still have ways to maintain our fitness by going out for a run and we have started a group to share our individual runs and progress with one another so that we can come back stronger!"
Small hit three personal-bests during the 2019-20 cross country and indoor track seasons. She ran a 20:27.7 5K at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational and a 23:25.3 6K at the Atlantic Region Championships in the fall, and posted a 5000 meter time of 19:14.52 at the Kent State Tune-Up in February, her last indoor meet.
Thomas is a freshman from Uniontown, Pennsylvania and Uniontown Area High School. The marketing major has a 3.81 cumulative grade point average so far.
"What I'll miss most about this current team is the overall chemistry," said Thomas. "From our specific events to our personalities, the track and field team is diverse, and we all brought something different to the table. Because of that, everyone bonded so well, and that led to unconditional support and encouragement from everyone, on or off the track."
Thomas competed in the high jump and long jump for the Crimson Hawks during the indoor season. He posted a season-best high jump of 1.98 meters at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships, finishing fourth overall.
