WALESKA, Ga.— According to a release from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) office Tuesday morning, Jessica Gakeri is the league's Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week honoree for the second time this spring. The award is Gakeri's fifth conference weekly nod of her career, as well as the third weekly recognition for a Montreat women's track & field athlete during the outdoor season.
 
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Gakeri excelled during her time at the Asheville Bulldog Invite. Gakeri beat 11 NCAA Division I athletes, among others, on her way to winning the triple jump event last weekend. Thanks to her NAIA 'A' standard mark of 12.02m, Gakeri topped all competitors in the 21-jumper field.
 
The senior also participated in the long jump at UNC Asheville. Gakeri bounded her way to a ninth-place finish out of 35 athletes with her 5.28m effort.
 
To see the official AAC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week release, click here.
 
Gakeri and the Montreat women's track & field team look to replicate their indoor team title at this week's AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which are slated for Thursday through Saturday in Johnson City, Tenn.