NEW ORLEANS – Southern Miss’ Kennedi Sanders and ULM’s Raquel Gomes have earned recognition as the Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for their performances over the last week. 

Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Kennedi Sanders, Southern Miss
(Sr. | Sprints | Madison, Miss.) 

Southern Miss senior sprinter Kennedi Sanders led the Golden Eagles with a third-place finish in the 400 meters (53.12) at the Crimson Tide Invitational this weekend. Her time in the 400m currently leads the league. Sanders also ran a leg on the third-place 4x400-meter relay team, combining for a time of 3:42.01.

Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Raquel Gomes, ULM
(Gr. | Throws | Leiria, Portugal)

ULM graduate student Raquel Gomes recorded a distance of 52.68m/172-10 in the discus throw, good for second place at the meet in College Station, and was also her personal best in the event. The result stands atop the Sun Belt in the discus throw and ranks seventh in the South Central Region, 24th in the NCAA East division, and 45th in the NCAA.

2026 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Week 1 – Shatalya Dorsett, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Emme Bates, Southern Miss
Week 3 – Shatalya Dorsett, Georgia Southern
Week 4 – Kennedi Sanders, Southern Miss

2026 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Week 1 – Elisabet Runarsdottir, Texas State
Week 2 – Carly Pujol, Arkansas State
Week 3 – Kiara Strayhorn, Arkansas State
Week 4 – Raquel Gomes, ULM