Women's Track & Field | 2/13/2018 12:50:00 PM

Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University senior jumper Alyssa Handley (East Aurora, N.Y.) is the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Women's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week, league officials announce Tuesday. Handley receives this honor for the first time, as indoor track and field is the newest sport on the SAC landscape this year.
 
Handley was third in the JDL Team Challenge women's triple jump with her personal-best mark of 10.83 meters Thursday. Handley also participated in the women's long jump at the VMI Winter Relays Saturday, posting another personal-best with her leap of 4.91 meters.
 
"Alyssa's dedication is unmatched," Wingate head track and field coach Travis LeFlore says. "As a nursing major, her schedule is packed every day. She puts in the time on the track and to see a couple personal bests come out of the deal is encouraging to see. I'm proud of her."
 
The 2017-18 season is the inaugural year for South Atlantic Conference indoor track and field. The league's first championship meet is slated for Monday, Feb. 19 at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 11 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 99 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 108 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.