NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana’s Isabelle Russell and Alaysha Veal have earned recognition as the Sun Belt Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for their performances over the last week. 

Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Isabelle Russell, Louisiana
(Jr. | Distance | Benton, La.) 

The current school-record holder in the women’s 5,000 meters, Louisiana’s Isabelle Russell clocked a time of 9:35.63 to break the 3,000-meter record at the Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational at the University of Missouri, surpassing teammate and former record holder Ella Segura (9:42.59). The junior’s time is the second fastest in the Sun Belt Conference this season.

Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Alaysha Veal, Louisiana
(Jr. | Jumps | Lafayette, La.)

Louisiana’s Alaysha Veal became the first Ragin’ Cajun female athlete to clear the 6-foot mark in the high jump, posting a jump of 1.83m/6-0 and capturing the title at Missouri's Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational. The junior broke her previous school indoor record of 1.77m/5-9 ¾. The mark is the best in the Sun Belt Conference and ranks 14th on the NCAA Indoor Performance List.

2026 Sun Belt Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Week 1 – Emme Bates, Southern Miss
Week 2 – Abigail Parra, Texas State
Week 3 – Isabelle Russell, Louisiana

2026 Sun Belt Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Week 1 – Zayna Fray, Georgia State
Week 2 – Melanie Duron, Texas State
Week 3 – Alaysha Veal, Louisiana