ALFRED, NY – Sophomore Ana Ion (Bucharest, Romania/Episcopal School of Jacksonville) picked up her second Empire 8 Weekly Award as she was named a Co-Field Athlete of the Week on Monday afternoon in an announcement by Associate Commissioner, Joe Venniro.
 
Along with her five Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week Honors during the 2019-20 season and her earlier Field Athlete of the Week this semester, Ion now has seven total recognitions, tying Miasia Hillman '15 of the women's track & field team. She is only behind Seth Spicer '18 of the men's track & field team and Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) of the softball team who have eight and 11, respectively.
 
Ion earned podium positions on each of her six events she competed in during the 2021 Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday and Saturday as she was named one of the Women's Co-Field Athletes of the Meet. Ion totaled 33 of Alfred University's 85 team points (one relay for four points) as she was on the podium for four field events and two track events. Her top finish earned her All-Empire 8 Second Team Honors as she threw a distance of 29.35m for second place in the javelin for eight points. Ion had a pair of third place finishes with the 100-meter hurdles (16.40) and an All-Atlantic Regional qualifying standard of 10.81m in the triple jump, scoring six points in both events. She also tied for third in the high jump for five points (1.45m).
 
Ion closed out her scoring efforts with a fourth place finish in the long jump (5.06m) and a fourth place finish in the 4x400-meter relay (4:26.72), teaming with Ashley Page (Wayland, NY/Wayland-Cohocton), Krissy Roberts (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) and Olivia Gilbert (Ontario, NY/Wayne Central) as she ran the second leg.
 
Ion was joined by Wilcox on Monday as she was the Softball Pitcher of the Week. Ion was also named a Saxon of the Week along with teammate, Madison Palmer (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora).
 
Ion and the Saxons will next send their qualifiers to the All-Atlantic Regional Track & Field Conference Outdoor Championships held at St. John Fisher College on Wednesday and Thursday, May 19 and 20.