Feb. 20, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Senior Precious Akins from the South Carolina women’s track and field team was named SEC Field Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. Akins is the third Gamecock this season to earn a weekly accolade from the conference, joining juniors Natasha Hastings and Shalonda Solomon.

Akins finished first in the shot put Saturday at the Gamecock Invitational with a PR 49-3 1/2. In the 20-pound weight throw, she recorded a second-place finish thanks to a throw of 58-6 1/2. Akins’ first- and second-place finishes were her best of the year.

A native of Summerville, S.C., Akins owns one provisional throw in the 20-pound weight at 62-10, which came at the Diet Pepsi Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., in January. It was a PR for her as well.

Akins and the Gamecocks head to Lexington, Ky., on Thursday for the SEC Indoor Championships over Feb. 23-25.