Bulldogs Earn Program-Record Big South Indoor Weekly Honors

BIG SOUTH RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Following a standout performance at the Tryon International Winter Invitational (Jan. 16–17), the UNC Asheville track and field program earned the most Big South indoor weekly honors in a single week in program history.

Alison Graf was named Women's Track Athlete of the Week, becoming the first Bulldog to earn a conference track athlete weekly honor since Sarah Gentry in 2013. Graf set two school records at the Tryon Winter Invitational in winning both the 1,000m run and 600m race. She first ran a 2:49.50 in the 1000m, in which she shaved nearly eight seconds off her previous school record of 2:57.28, set last season. That performance is now second-fastest in Big South history. Graf won the 600m in 1:34.70 to better the program mark by more than two seconds, as well as move into sixth on the conference's all-time list.

Shemarr Session claimed Men's Track Athlete of the Week, marking the second weekly honor of his career. Session previously earned Freshman of the Week recognition on Feb. 20, 2025. At Tryon, he won the 200m with a time of 21.55, which ranks second in the conference this year, and helped the 4x400m relay team to a fourth-place finish in 3:24.63.

Graf and Session's sweep of the track athlete honors marks the first time in program history that Asheville has claimed both men's and women's track Athlete of the Week awards in the same week.

Kelechi Anyanwu was named Co-Freshman of the Week after finishing third in the 200m (21.63) and joining Session on the fourth-place 4x400m relay squad.

The Bulldogs return to action at the ECE Banked In Best Invitational in Tryon on Jan. 30–31.