JACKSON- Senior women's track and field athlete Kasey Laird was named the athlete of the week by the Southern Athletic Association coaches. 

Laird competes in the discus and well as the shot put and has thrived in both events through out the season. Laird finished second in the discus last week at the Rhodes Open with a throw of 135 feet three inches. She finished ninth in the hammer and fifth in the shot put at last week's event as well. 

"I am very proud of Kasey. She has been a dedicated student-athlete over the last four years," coach Andy Till said on Wednesday. "She has worked very hard with Coach Bynum and her hard work is really paying off." 

Laird also finished second in the shot put at the Sewanee Indoor and third in the weighted throw. She also finished third in the shot put and second in the discus at the MC Open. 

"Kasey is a two-time conference champion in the discus and now we are working on qualifying for nationals," Till added. 

Laird and the track and field team will head back to Memphis this weekend to compete in the Rhodes Invitational.