WALESKA, Ga.— For the second time in her career and the first time since 2023, Emma Barnes is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week. According to a release from the league office on Monday, Barnes garnered the honor for her outstanding performance at the Tryon Winter Invitational last Friday.
 
Competing in the pentathlon over the weekend, Barnes stole the show in a field loaded with NCAA Division I athletes. Of the 24 finishers, 19 came from the DI level. Barnes beat them all, claiming first place with a school record tally of 3,176 points. The Waxhaw, N.C. native shattered her own personal best by 260 points, and her total currently ranks 12^th in the NAIA—the top 16 declared marks make the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
 
Barnes' took first place in the shot put and second place in the 60m hurdles to bolster her overall point total. Her 9.21-second time in the hurdles would be a school record as a standalone event.
 
For the official AAC Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week release, click here.
 
The Montreat College women's track & field team leaps right back into action this upcoming Friday and Saturday with the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.