TAMPA, JAN 26, 2016 – USF’s Matthew O’Neal was named the American Athletic Conference Male Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday.
The senior from Jackson, Miss. won the Joe Donahue Games with an NCAA DI-leading jump and meet record of 54-8 (16.66m). The distance broke O’Neal’s own school record of 53-11.25. It was O’Neal’s second athlete of the week honor this season.
With a jump of that distance, it almost assures O’Neal a chance at becoming an All-American for the fifth time. Individuals with a jump that ranks in the top 16 at the end of the season earn the right to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships, March 13-14 in Birmingham, Ala.