Alec Thibodeaux (Mount Sidney, Va./Fort Defiance) had a huge race on Saturday and the ODAC took notice, naming EMU’s senior the ODAC Track Athlete of the Week.
This is the third time Thibodeaux has earned a weekly award in track and fourth overall, including one from cross country this fall.
He shattered his own program record in the 3000m at Saturday’s UCS Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C., finishing in 8:32.62. Thibodeaux not only won the race peppered with D-I and D-II athletes by nearly 2.5 seconds, he also cleared his previous best time of 8:43.68 by more than 11 seconds.
The time puts him first in the ODAC this year by 7.5 seconds and at No. 30 in the nation.
Thibodeaux is also No. 4 in the ODAC in the 800m at 1:59.08, No. 7 in the 5000m at 15:47.98 and No. 9 in the mile at 4:28.75.
He is a seven-time All-ODAC honoree, including winning the outdoor 800m as a sophomore in 2015.
Eastern Mennonite’s men and women head to Salem, Va., on Sunday for the ODAC Indoor Championships, hosted by Roanoke College.