WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.-  Two Monmouth University track & field athletes have been awarded NEC Weekly Awards, conference officials announced Tuesday afternoon.  Seniors Tisifenee Taylor (Woodbury, N.J./Woodbury) and Nick Williams (Adamstown, Md./Urbana) were named Northeast Conference Track Athlete of the Week and Northeast Conference Field Athlete of the Week, respectively, after their dominating performances at the Greyhound Invitational last weekend.

Tisifenee has continued to get stronger and more consistent with her jumps and is excelling for us in several areas,” said head coach Joe Compagni.  “Nick has quietly put together a great career here at Monmouth. Technically everything is really starting to click for him and I'm sure he will put up some even bigger marks in the next few weeks.”

Taylor finished no worse than third in the four events she competed in this weekend, with the senior winning three events.  Her best performance came in the long jump, leaping 21'6 ?”, which set the Monmouth record (and the meet record).  Her jump is the fourth best mark in the country, and first in the east region, which will improve her spot in the NCAA Regionals while qualifying her for the second consecutive year for the US Track & Field Championships.  She also set new meet records in the 100m (11.94) and 100m hurdles (14.78), winning both events in the process.  Taylor wrapped up her day by helping the Hawks' 4x100 relay team to a third place finish while setting a new Monmouth record (47.26).

Williams was part of a MU throwing squad that dominated the competition at the Greyhound Invitational, with the senior taking first in two events.  The Adamstown, Md., native won the shot put with a NCAA Regional mark of 56'4 ?”, which is currently the top distance in the conference.  He also won the discus, setting a new meet record with his toss of 171' 5”. His discus mark was also a new Greyhound Invite record.  Monmouth throwers have won four out of the six weekly field awards in the 2007 outdoor season.