March 13, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore sprinter Zeb Johnson and freshman softball pitcher Mendy McKenzie were today named the Southern Conference Athletes of the Month for February in their respective sport. Each month, the conference office selects one athlete from each in-season sport, with baseball and softball differentiating between player and pitcher awards.
Johnson (Charlotte, N.C.) was tabbed the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the 2006 SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships in February. He tallied two SoCon titles in the championship, earning top honors in the 60-meter dash (6.85) and the 200-meter dash (21.83). Johnson also came in second place in the finals of the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.34.
Also during the month, Johnson ran second in the 200-meter dash and third in the 60-meter dash to record podium finishes, while also anchoring the men's 4x400-meter relay team to a second-place finish at the Akron Open. His performances in Ohio earned him the SoCon's Male Track Athlete of the Week honors. A week later at the Clemson Invitational, Johnson won the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.32 to rank atop the speed charts entering the SoCon Indoor Championships.
All told, Johnson recorded seven podium finishes during the month, including three first-place finishes in the 60-, 200-, and 400-meter distances.
McKenzie (Clemmons, N.C.) kicked off her collegiate career by going 3-0 with a 1.02 ERA in the month of February in 27.1 innings pitched. A two-time SoCon Pitcher of the Week in the month, McKenzie struck out 36 batters in February and gave up just 12 runs on 25 hits. The right-handed hurler also claimed the victory in Western Carolina's first-ever win, a 3-1 decision over Tennessee Tech at the Georgia State Tournament on February 11.
At the plate, McKenzie hit .333 during the month (1-for-3) with two RBI single in the school's first-ever extra inning victory over Drexel at the Charlotte 49er tournament at the beginning of the month.
The two were also named Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for February earlier last week, with McKenzie sharing the honor with track athlete, sophomore Raquel Ramseur.
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