NEW ORLEANS --- Mississippi College's Tytavia Hardy was named United States Track and Field, Cross Country Coaches Association Women's National Athlete of the Week, as announced by the association on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

This is the first time in program history an athlete from Mississippi College has been named National Athlete of the Week during the indoor season.

The Pensacola, Fla., native assisted the Choctaws to a runner-up finish at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships as she scored 36 points over the two days in Birmingham, Ala. She topped the podium twice at the Birmingham Crossplex as she won the 60-meter hurdles in a meet-record time of 8.60. She added a second gold medal to his ledger as she bounded 11.90 meters (39'0.5") in the triple jump on her fifth attempt of the competition. The junior also earned a pair of silver medals to her two-day total in the high jump (1.63m/5'4.25") and long jump (5.54m/18'2.25"). Hardy's efforts landed her the GSC Top Field Performer and Most Outstanding Overall Performer of the Meet. Her record-setting performance in the 60H is also the seventh-best time in NCAA Division II this year.

Hardy and Mississippi College turn their attention to the NCAA Division II National Indoor Championships, Friday, March 11 through Saturday, March 12. The two-day Championships are set for Pittsburg, Kan.