The UNC Asheville track and field program has achieved a historic milestone by securing the most Big South indoor weekly honors in a single week. This recognition follows standout performances at the Tryon International Winter Invitational on January 16-17, 2026. Athletes Alison Graf and Shemarr Session swept the top track awards, marking a first for the program.
The UNC Asheville Bulldogs track and field team made history on January 21, 2026, when the Big South Conference announced its indoor weekly honors from Charlotte, N.C. The program earned four accolades, the highest number in a single week in its history, after competing at the Tryon International Winter Invitational.
Alison Graf claimed the Women's Track Athlete of the Week award, the first such honor for a Bulldog since Sarah Gentry in 2013. At the invitational, Graf set two school records. She won the 1,000m run in 2:49.50, improving her previous mark of 2:57.28 by nearly eight seconds and placing second in Big South history. In the 600m, she finished first in 1:34.70, surpassing the program record by more than two seconds and ranking sixth all-time in the conference.
Shemarr Session earned Men's Track Athlete of the Week, his second career honor after being named Freshman of the Week on February 20, 2025. Session won the 200m in 21.55, the second-fastest time in the Big South this season. He also contributed to the 4x400m relay team's fourth-place finish in 3:24.63.
Kelechi Anyanwu shared Co-Freshman of the Week honors, placing third in the 200m with 21.63 and anchoring the relay squad alongside Session.
This sweep of men's and women's track athlete awards is unprecedented for UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs next compete at the ECE Banked In Best Invitational in Tryon on January 30-31.
