NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior Destiney Coward (East Haven, Conn.) of the women’s indoor track and field team and redshirt senior Yakabu Ibrahim (Somerset, N.J.) of the men’s indoor track and field team have been named as the Chick-fil-A of North Haven/Southern Connecticut State University Athletes of the Week.
Coward etched her name into the history books on Friday night as she claimed the 2018 NCAA Division II title in the weight throw. Her opening throw of 20.79 meters proved to be the winning mark. It was the 90th NCAA title in SCSU athletics history (80 individual, 10 team). This was the fifth NCAA title in women's track and field history, joining Paula Brunetto - 1,500 meters - (1987 - indoors), Kateema Riettie - javelin (outdoors - 2001, 2002) and the 4x400 relay of Crystle Hill, Georgette Nixon, Sarah Hill and Shatajah Wattely (indoors - 2015).
Coward cleared 20 meters with three of her five throws. Coming into the meet, Coward was the only Division II athlete to clear that number in the weight throw this year. Michaela Dendinger of Wayne State (Neb.) did throw 20.42 meters, but Coward's opening throw was more than enough for the crown.
Ibrahim earned the fourth All-America honor of his collegiate career with a fifth-place finish in the 60 meter hurdles at this past weekend’s NCAA Championships. He completed the race in 7.99 seconds.
Chick-fil-A of North Haven, located at 560 Universal Drive, is serving as the title sponsor of Southern Connecticut State University’s ‘Athlete of the Week’ recognition program. Initiated in September, 2007, the ‘Athlete of the Week’ program recognizes one female and one male student-athlete each week for demonstrated excellence on the playing field.
