NOTEBOOK: Benjamin, Heckstall win titles at AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships
On the second day of the AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the USF track team saw one of its athletes take home a title for the first time since 2014.
Freshman Shaniya Benjamin posted a school record in the long jump May 15 as the Tampa native logged a 21-4 score on her leap, winning her the event by 6 inches.
The next day saw more success for the Bulls. Junior Jae’Nisa Heckstall won the title in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.94. Heckstall’s time, like Benjamin’s, is a program record.
Heckstall wasn’t done, however. She followed up her title by anchoring the women’s 4×400-meter relay to a win later in the day. The rest of the relay included Benjamin, junior Patricija Roshofa and graduate student Gabrielle DesRosiers. The four combined for a 3:35.03 time in the event.
Corrick three-peats as AAC Pitcher of the Year
Junior pitcher Georgina Corrick added another piece of hardware to her collegiate collection, as she was named the AAC Pitcher of the Year for the third time running, the conference announced May 12.
Corrick, who has a 0.97 ERA through 35 appearances, is having one of the best seasons of her career. Aside from a career-low ERA, she also has struck out a career-high 300 batters, including a 17-strikeout performance against Florida Atlantic on Feb. 28.
The Sanford native will look to power the Bulls deep into the postseason as she and her team are scheduled to begin the NCAA tournament against powerhouse UF, a team the Bulls have lost to four times this season.
Roberto Peña tabbed as AAC Player of the Week
Redshirt sophomore Roberto Peña was named the AAC Player of the Week on Monday, adding to an already impressive first year with the USF baseball team.
The Bulls are Peña’s third collegiate program, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing on the field. Peña has a .266 batting average and a team-high 33 RBIs. He also is second on the team in slugging percentage with a .538 mark.
Peña was named the player of the week following his performance against Wichita State during which he went 8-for-15 with two home runs and four RBIs. He also stole three bases.
Former USF center Michael Durr decommits from Virginia Tech, elects Indiana as transfer destination
Former USF men’s basketball player Michael Durr entered the transfer portal on March 31 and later announced his intent to head to Virginia Tech.
In a recent turn of events, however, Durr decommitted from the Hokies on May 10 and announced via Twitter that his recruitment was reopened.
About a week later, Durr put out another tweet proclaiming his intent to transfer to Indiana, a program looking to add talent for newly hired coach Mike Woodson.
Let’s get it Hoosier nation ⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/WL1AoISS0A
— Michael Durr (@mikeprobound) May 17, 2021
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