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United East Athletes of the Week - February 20, 2024

LATHAM, N.Y. -  The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for February 20, 2024.  This includes Athletes of the Week for both Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field.

This week’s selections included contests from Monday, February 12 through Sunday, February 18.  A total of 4 student-athletes were recognized for their performances. 
 

Men’s Indoor Track & Field

Track Athlete of the Week
Eric Gregory / Sr / Gallaudet University / Metairie, La. / East Jefferson HS

Gallaudet University All-American sprinter Eric Gregory (Metairie, La.) blew past the Division I competition in the 400-meter dash last Friday at the Navy Select on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy in the Wesley A. Brown Field House.
Gregory won the 400-meter dash in 48.69 seconds out of six total runners in the event. Gregory was nearly a second ahead of Aaron Abedin from the University of Maryland (49.56). William & Mary sprinter David Seekford was third (50.15) followed by Peter Capozzoli (51.39) from Maryland and two Navy sprinters took fifth and sixth in Grant Hunsaker (51.64) and Thomas Kephart (52.71), respectively.
Gregory came out of the blocks hot as he clocked a 22.718 in the race's first 200 meters. The senior sprinter closed out the final 200 meters in 25.965 seconds.
This is the 11th Athlete of the Week honor for Gregory who is a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion (400m; 2022 & 2023; outdoors) as well as a four-time All-American.
 
Field Athlete of the Week
Liam Painter / FY / Gallaudet University / Edgewood, N.M. / East Mountain HS

Gallaudet University jumper Liam Painter (Edgewood, N.M.) finished third in the pole vault Sunday at the Princeton Indoor Invitational at Jadwin Gymnasium. Painter competed against three pole vaulters from Princeton University (Division I) and one from Arcadia University (Division III). Painter cleared 4.30 meters (14 feet, 1.25 inches) on his third and final try at that height. Painter attempted 4.45 meters but did not clear it in three tries. Painter's school record mark is 4.37 meters (14 feet, 4 inches) set Feb. 4 at the Richard Drake Invitational in Virginia Beach, Va., two weeks ago. This is the first Athlete of the Week honor for Painter.
 
 
Women’s Indoor Track & Field

Track Athlete of the Week
Oceana Brown / FY / Gallaudet University / Miami, Fl. / Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

Gallaudet's Oceana Brown broke her own school record for a third consecutive week as she participated in the Navy Select last Friday on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy. Brown posted a record time of 25.92 seconds in the 200-meter dash as she finished eighth overall in the event. Brown improved on her previous record time of 26.35 that happened last Saturday, Feb. 10, in Salem, Va., at the Joe LaRocco Invitational. This is the fourth Athlete of the Week honor for Brown, who previously won for the week of February 13, 2024, February 6, 2024 and January 23, 2024.
 
Field Athlete of the Week - Skye Division
Hannah Wetzel / Sr / Gallaudet University / Fremont, Ca. / California School for the Deaf - Fremont

Gallaudet's Hannah Wetzel cleared 1.66 meters (5 feet, 5.25 inches) in the high jump last Friday at the Navy Select on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy to set a new school record and win the event. Wetzel erased her old record mark of 1.65 meters that happened last Saturday, Feb. 10, in Salem, Va., at the Joe LaRocco Invitational. This is the seventh Athlete of the Week honor for Wetzel, who previously won for the weeks of February 13, 2024, February 6, 2024, December 12, 2023, May 2, 2023, April 25, 2022, and March 28, 2022 on top of the CSAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year award in 2023.
 
 
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.