After beginning his collegiate career in grand fashion with a school record inthe shot put, University of Kentucky freshman Jeff Chakouian was namedSoutheastern Conference Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week, the leagueoffice announced on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

At the Wildcat Speed Meet in December, Chakouian stepped up for his firstthrow as a Wildcat and launched the shot put a booming 65-10.50, breaking allschool records, including freshman, Nutter Field House and meet records. Thethrow also was the farthest toss in the world by a junior-aged athlete (19 yearsold or younger) in 2000, while automatically qualifying him for the NCAA IndoorChampionships.

That was an achievement beyond spectacular, field events coach JohnKenneson said. It is just phenomenal that he was able to throw that distance sosoon in his career. This honor is greatly deserved.

This past weekend at the Rod McCravy Memorial meet in Lexington, Ky.,Chakouian again launched the shot over 60 feet, but fell four feet short of his topmark. However, that throw was an NCAA provisional-qualifying mark, giving himhis second qualifying mark in as many meets.

Chakouian leads the conference in the shot put by 10-07.50 over TylerGarrett of Tennessee. He returns to action on Friday, Jan. 20, at an SEC QuadMeet in the Nutter Field House on the UK campus.