Saunders was among four CAA athletes honored after all turned in performances that qualified them for the NCAA Regional or National Track & Field Championships.
North Carolina Wilmington senior Christie Schreckengost (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone Area) was chosen CAA Women's Field Athlete of the Week,, William and Mary graduate student Ed Moran (Dayton, N.J./Notre Dame) was selected as CAA Men's Track Athlete of the Week and George Mason senior Mark Kellman (Coram, N.Y./Longwood) was tabbed as CAA Men's Field Athlete of the Week.
Saunders took nearly 24 seconds off the JMU record and qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 10,000 meters with a time of 33:54.56 at the Stanford Track and Field Invitational. The junior placed 15th overall and 14th among collegiate runners at the prestigious competition. Saunders also shattered her own personal record by nearly 34 seconds in the event.
Schreckengost won the javelin at the Cape Fear Classic with an NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 48.36 meters (158\'8\"). The effort was the best of the season for Schreckengost, who has been the CAA champion in the javelin for the past three years.
Moran qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:10.4 at the Raleigh Relays. It was the first race back for Moran since suffering a broken foot at the 2003 cross country NCAA Southeast Regionals. He placed second overall in the seeded race.
Kellman won the triple jump at the Raleigh Relays with an NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 15.24 meters (50\'7 1/4\"). It was the first foray into the triple jump this season for Kellman, who won the CAA championship in the event a year ago.