LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Senior Jeff Chakouian was named SEC Field Event Athlete of the Week for the second time this season and the third time during his collegiate career, it was announced Wednesday by the league office. Chakouian received the honor for his performance at the Gatorade Classic in Knoxville, Tenn., where he took first in the shot put, smashing his previous season-best with a heave of 66-02 1/2.

Chakouian?s toss last weekend at the Gatorade Classic, surpassed all NCAA Division I shot put competitors according to the Track Wire Dandy Dozen ranking. That mark is also almost four feet further than the nearest SEC competitor and is less than one inch away from his own school record of 66-03 set last year.

Prior to last week, Chakouian had been tied with Arizona?s Sean Shields for the number one spot at 64-06 1/2, which he threw at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on April 2. The Seekonk, Mass., native opened the outdoor season with a toss of 65-06 ? to claim the shot put title at the Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.

Chakouian has thrown regional qualifying marks in each of his three performances this season. He will compete in the shot put at the NCAA Midwest Regional May 27-28 at Bloomington, Ind.