NEW ORLEANS – JMU’s Miranda Stanhope and App State’s Jada Branch have earned recognition as the first Sun Belt Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week this season. 

Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Miranda Stanhope, JMU
(Jr., Distance, Kinsman, Ohio) 

Dukes’ junior Miranda Stanhope recorded a mile time of 4:53.29 for first place at the Marshall Invite over the weekend. The performance was not only a personal-best, but also marked the ninth-best time in the event in program history. Additionally, the time leads the conference.

Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Jada Branch, App State
(Sr., Jumps, Stafford, Va.)

Mountaineers’ senior Jada Branch garnered gold in the women's triple jump with a leap of 12.52m (41'1") and landed fourth in the women's long jump with a mark of 5.58m (18' 3.75") at the John Weaver Invitational on Dec. 2-3. In the women's triple jump, Branch leads the Sun Belt, is fifth in the Southeast Region, and ranks 27th in the NCAA. In the women's long jump, the Stafford, Va. native checks in at 12th in the SBC.

2023 Sun Belt Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Week 1 – Miranda Stanhope, JMU

2023 Sun Belt Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Week 1 – Jada Branch, App State