University Park, Pa., Feb. 15, 2006 - Senior and All-American Jennifer Leatherman (Yellville, Ark.) collected her second ever Big Ten Athlete of the week award.
Leatherman threw two NCAA qualifying marks at the Sykes Sabock meet last weekend. She finished first in the weight throw with an NCAA automatic qualifying throw of 71-6 1/4. She currently ranks first in the Big Ten in the event. She also finished first in the shot put with an NCAA provisional throw of 53-5, where she ranks second in the Big Ten.
Leatherman transferred from the U.S. Naval Academy before last season and has been an incredible addition to the Lions. She collected her All-America honors in 2005 in the hammer, shot put and 20lb. weight throw. She was also the Big Ten Champion in the same events. For her Big Ten title in the 20 lb. weight throw, she broke the Michigan facility record by nine feet and the three year old Big Ten record by eight inches with a mark of 69-11 1/2. Leatherman continued her record breaking season by shattering two Penn State records, the 20 lb. weight throw and the hammer. She qualified for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships in the shot put, discus and hammer and was the NCAA East Regional Champion in the hammer.
Leatherman is set to compete next weekend with teammates at the Big Ten Championships, hosted by the University of Wisconsin.