CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Senior pole vaulter Carrie Burggraf and freshman jumper and hurdler Leigha Tolliver were announced as recipients of Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field season awards, Thursday, by the league office. Burggraf was named Female Field Athlete of the Year, while Tolliver shared Female Freshman of the Year honors with Eastern Kentucky's Picoty Leitich.

In the indoor season, Burggraf has competed in five meets, never with a mark lower than 3.80 meters (12-feet, 5 1/2 inches), and earned three first- and two third-place finishes. Burggraf's lowest mark of the indoor season is better than the highest mark of anyone else in the conference aside from teammate Molly Bartkiewicz, who tied Burggraf's heights on three occasions.

"This award is a culmination of all Carrie's hard work," said head coach Doug Molnar. "She has gotten better each year and this year she has been outstanding in every meet. She's always working to get better and it's nice that the other coaches recognized her hard work."

The Marion, Ohio, native has dominated the pole vault during her four years at Austin Peay, winning three OVC titles (one indoor, two outdoor) in that time. Last season, she set an Austin Peay record at the OVC Championships with a 3.80 meter (12-05.50), a record she destroyed in her second meet (Niswonger Invitational) this season with a 4.00 meter (13-01.50) effort. That mark gave her an NCAA provisional qualifying mark, as well as tying her with Bartkiewicz for the top mark in the conference this season.

Tolliver has been the indoor season's most pleasant surprise, picking up two wins in the long jump and one in the triple jump in her first indoor season. In the conference, the Indianapolis, Ind., native owns the top mark in the long jump, at 5.99 meters (19-08.00), and stands at fourth in the triple jump at 11.54 meters (37-10.50) as well as fourth in the 55-meter hurdles (8.33 seconds, converted from 8.90 in the 60-meter hurdles).

"Leigha has had just an outstanding freshman season," said Molnar. "To be ranked where she is in the conference would be a great accomplishment for anyone, but for a freshman that is just outstanding. She's just now learning the triple jump and is getting better at that event every week. I'm glad she's on our team; I'd hate to have to face her in a meet."

- AP -