WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Seniors Symone Black and Savannah Carson earned Big Ten weekly awards, the conference office announced Wednesday. Black was tabbed the Big Ten co-Track Athlete of the Week while Carson earned the Field Athlete of the Week nod for their efforts at the UTSA Invitational.
Carson competed in her first meet of the 2018 season, as she had just an outdoor season of eligibility remaining. She won the long jump with a nation-leading wind-legal (+1.3) mark of 6.34 meters (20-9.75). That jump is 4.75 inches better than anyone else in the NCAA this season. Carson also ran the 100-meter dash, where she was second with a windy (+3.7) time of 11.47 seconds and ran a leg of the winning 4x100-meter relay that posted a time of 44.81 seconds. Her 100-meter dash time is fifth in the country, while the 4x100-meter relay team ranks ninth.
The award is the sixth weekly honor of her career. Previously, Carson had won an indoor track and indoor field athlete of the week and two outdoor field and one outdoor track athlete of the week honors. It is her first since April 19, 2017.
Black earns the award after running the nation's fastest 400-meter hurdles time. She won the race with a time of 57.87 seconds, which is 0.98 of a second better than anyone else in the country. The award is the fourth of her career. It is also the third consecutive year she has earned the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week award after the outdoor season opener.
Black, Carson and the Boilermakers will resume action next week at the Florida Relays.