Franklin College junior Erica Christy wasted no time making national noise in women’s outdoor track and field.
And now, she’s being honored for it.
In the March 19 season-opener, the former Greenwood Community High School standout won the shot at the Early Bird Invitational at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Christy’s winning mark was 39 feet, 5.75 inches — the 10th-best standard in NCAA Division III so far this season.
In recognition of her effort, Christy has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week.
Her shot put win helped the Grizzlies earn a fourth-place finish in the eight- team field.
Christy is one of five members of the women’s track and field team from Johnson County high schools.
The others are senior Ashley Myers (Edinburgh), senior Madison Parker (Franklin), junior Casey Tranter (Franklin) and freshman Jackie Rizzi (Center Grove).
Franklin returns to action Thursday at HCAC rival Anderson.
More recognition
Junior infielder Jeana Gregory has been named to the Louisville Slugger National Fastpitch Coaches Association Honor Roll.One of four Franklin College players to earn the honor this season, Gregory was recognized for hitting .800 during a doubleheader split last week against DePauw.In a 6-1 win, Gregory went 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. In the nightcap, she was 1 for 2.
Franklin’s top slugger, Gregory is hitting .647 for the 7-5 Grizzlies. She also has a 1.059 slugging percentage and has belted two doubles, a triple and a home run.
So far, Franklin has had a player on the national Honor Roll each week. Senior outfielder Katie Struewing, junior outfielder Megan Lalioff and sophomore pitcher Olivia Paszek also have been recognized.
Struewing is a Greenwood graduate. Paszek is from Franklin.
Swimmer top 20 at nationals
Franklin College junior Artur Schneider placed 17th in the 100-yard breaststroke at last week’s NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.A two-time national qualifier, Schneider’s time was 49.61 seconds. The 12th- through 18th-place finishers were separated by one-tenth of a second in the 41-swimmer event.Schneider also competed in the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley at nationals.
In the backstroke, he was 29th out of 34 competitors with a time of 1:51.22.
In the 200 IM, he was 36th out of 46 swimmers with a time was 1:53.08.
Track athletes to watch
Four members of the Grizzlies’ men’s track and field team have been named to the HCAC Athletes to Watch list.They are senior middle distance runner Eric Thompson, junior distance runner Matt Millard, junior long jump and triple-jumper Nathaniel Staples, and junior long jump and triple-jumper Cody Foster.
