Austin wins second consecutive RSC Field Athlete of the Week Award; third of career

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Behind defeating a combined 37 NCAA Division I athletes between the shot put and discus events at the Charlotte 49er Classic, setting a personal best, a school record and a NAIA National 'B' Standard in the discus and matching his personal best in the shot put, Alan Austin was able to claim River States Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors for the second consecutive week and the third time overall in his career, as announced by RSC officials Monday afternoon.

For the second time in as many weekends to start the outdoor track and field season, Shawnee State sophomore thrower Alan Austin posted a NAIA National 'B' Standard in the discus -- as the sophomore's 51.18 meter throw allowed Austin to set a new personal best, a new school record and a top-three NAIA throwing mark in the event on the final day of the Charlotte 49er Classic, which was held at the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center in Charlotte, N.C.

Austin, whose 51.18 meter throw amounted to 167 feet, 11 inches, posted a mark that sat less than a half of a meter off of a NAIA National 'A' Standard -- and obilterated his previous personal best by five feet, two inches in doing so. In doing so, Austin outthrew 20 NCAA Division I discus competitors from Charlotte, Cornell, Davidson, Duquesne, East Tennessee State, Morgan State (Md.), North Carolina State, Queens (N.C.), UNC-Asheville, and Wofford (S.C.) with his performance on Saturday.

"Alan continues to show up big," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "Each week, he is getting closer to the goals he has set for himself entering the season. With his talent, strength, and drive combined, I know this progression will continue."

Along with accomplishing the above marks in the discus, Austin also matched his personal best throw in the shot put, throwing a 15.36-meter, or 50-foot, four-and-three-quarters inch mark to place ninth out of 46 individuals in the shot put to match his mark from the 2025 River States Conference Championship meet from an indoor standpoint. Austin defeated 17 NCAA Division I competitors from Charlotte, Cornell, Davidson, Duquesne, East Tennessee State, Morgan State (Md.), North Carolina State, Queens (N.C.), South Carolina Upstate, UNC-Asheville and Wofford (S.C.) as a result of matching his PB in the event.