LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for December 9, 2025. Today will include Players of the Week from Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field.
This week’s selections included contests through Sunday, December 7. A total of four student-athletes from three different member institutions were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Track Athlete of the Week
David Helms / JR / Lancaster Bible College / Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg
In a field of 40 runners, Helms claimed 3rd in the 5,000 meters on Saturday at the Diplomat Open hosted by Franklin & Marshall. The junior clocked a pace of 15:10.80 which set the new Charger record. The time currently tops the conference, ranks fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Region and 18th in all of Division III.
This is Helms' first weekly accolade of the year and his third of his career (02/11/25, 01/28/25).
Field Athlete of the Week
Jonathan Luo / SO / Penn State Harrisburg / New Cumberland, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt
Jonathan Luo turned in a strong performance in Penn State Harrisburg's first indoor competition at the Diplomat Invitational hosted by Franklin & Marshall on Friday afternoon. The sophomore was victorious in the high jump thanks to a top leap of 1.90 meters—a mark that ranks third all-time in program history in the event. The reigning United East Indoor Field Athlete of the Year also earned a runner-up finish in the long jump with a top bound of 6.57 meters and a fourth-place finish in the triple jump thanks to his effort of 12.95 meters.
This is Luo's first ever weekly accoalde.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
Field Athlete of the Week
Jillian Zukley / JR / St. Mary's College of Maryland / Severna Park, Md. / Severna Park
Jillian Zukley opened her junior campaign with a bang at the CNU Holiday Open. Zukley already qualified for the AARTFC Indoor Championships in March with her strong performance in the weight throw. She captured the shot put with 11.67m while coming in second in the weight throw with a school record 15.11m. Zukley knocked off her own mark of 13.79m set on Jan. 31, 2025, at the Marlin Invitational. She leads the conference in both events while ranking fourth in the Mid-Atlantic region in weight throw and sixth in shot put.
This is Zukley's first weekly award of the season and her fifth of her career (02/18/25, 02/04/25, 01/21/25, 01/16/24).
Track Athlete of the Week
Savannah Owens / JR / St. Mary's College of Maryland / Frederick, Md. / Gov. Thomas Johnson
Savannah Owens made a solid return for the Seahawks in the CNU Holiday Open after a year away from SMCM. Owens took second in the 600m with a school record time of 1:44.22, breaking the previous school record of 1:49.93 set by Avery Arizzi on Dec. 2, 2023. She also placed third in the 800m in 2:35.81 while leading off the fourth-place 4x400m. Savannah leads the conference in the 800m while ranking 18th in the Mid-Atlantic region.
This is Owens' first ever weekly accoalde.
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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.