INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Alicia DeShasier (Carrolton, Ill.) is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Female Track and Field Athlete of the Week. The senior won the javelin event at the Missouri Relays in her first career track meet on Mar. 31.

She recorded a meet record throw of 162 feet, 1 inch (49.90 meters) to take the top spot. The mark was an automatic qualifying throw for the NCAA Division II Championships and ranks first in the GLVC and in the nation this outdoor season.

With the throw, DeShasier broke the SIUE school record of 160 feet, 4 inches set by 2006 NCAA Division II National Champion Holly Noller. The throw also exceeded the ‘A’ standard for the 2007 U.S. Track & Field Championships.

DeShasier and the Cougars will return to action on Apr. 5 at Eastern Illinois.

Other top performers in the GLVC last week included Lewis’ Terran Wertz, Southern Indiana’s Missy Burgin and UIndy’s Emily Schaf.