NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Charity Johnson (women's field) and Breanna Clarke (track) were selected Red River Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week for March 24-30.
        The RRAC announced the awards Tuesday.
        Johnson — a freshman from Framingham, Mass., and a graduate of Medway High School — produced an NAIA nationals B-qualifying mark in the discus at the Southern Miss Invitational in Hattiesburg. Johnson's distance of 44.71 meters/146 feet, 8 inches placed her second out of 29 competitors and ahead of seven from NCAA Division I.
        Clarke — a junior from St. Catharine, Jamaica, and a transfer from two-year South Plains (Texas) College — produced A-qualifying times for NAIA nationals in the 100-meter dash and 400 relay. Clarke placed third out of 47 sprinters with 11.67 seconds in 100. The relay time was 46.36, and it was the second straight meet that the Gold Nuggets produced an A-time in that event.
        Clarke also earned NAIA National Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week for March 24-30.
        XULA's women and men will compete Friday and Saturday at Southern University's Pelican Relays in Baton Rouge, La.



photos by Yamlak Tsega