Western Carolina track & field athlete Leslie Martin was honored twice today by the Southern Conference. The senior was first tabbed as the SoCon Women's Indoor Track & Field Performer of the Week for her showing in the Niswonger Invitational held last weekend in Johnson City, Tenn., and was also honored for her prowess in the classroom by being selected as the TIAA/CREF Student-Athlete of the Week.

Martin finished fifth in the 800-meter run on Saturday, posting a time of 2:14.95, the quickest for the Cats this indoor season by over six seconds. Her time was also a mere second and a half off the Western Carolina all-time record of 2:13.33 held by Keeya McManus who recorded the time in Johnson City back in 1999. Martin also ran the lead leg of the 4x400-meter relay, completing her part in 56.4 seconds, helping the Catamounts place third with a time of 3:46.75, three seconds faster than the record-setting time they logged at the season-opening Appalachian Invitational.

In academia, Martin carries a 3.8 cummulative grade point average while majoring in art history. She was named to the Dean's List for the fall semester at Western.

For over 85 years, TIAA/CREF has been helping millions of people working in the academic, medical and cultural fields plan for their retirement. As a partner with the Southern Conference, one student-athlete is selected each week during the scholastic calendar for outstanding achievement both on the playing field and in the classroom.

The Catamount track & field teams will travel to Clemson, S.C. this weekend to take part in the Clemson Heptathlon/Pentathlon Championships for their third event of the indoor season.

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