NEW ORLEANS -- Jeff Dover has been named the National Track Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while he and Hannah Shoemaker also secured weekly honors from the Capital Athletic Conference after the two standouts pieced together a pair of historic efforts for Christopher Newport at the annual Holiday Open on Sunday at the Freeman Center.
 
Leading the way on the track, Dover earned his accolades after dominating in the mile and 3000. During both distance events, he posted the top time in the nation by a Division III runner while moving to third on the program's all-time performance list in each discipline. Meanwhile, Shoemaker won the CAC Field Athlete of the Week award after she posted a pair of top-10 all-time efforts in the shot put and weight throw.
 
Kicking things off on Sunday, Dover established a new personal-best in the mile after crossing the line in 4:15.58, which shaved nearly a full second off his previous top time. Additionally, his clocking is currently over three seconds faster than the next best mark registered by a Division III runner this season.
 
Along with his performance in the mile, Dover also raced to another elite effort in the 3000. During the event, he finished in 8:38.40, which set a new PR by nearly 51 seconds. His time also leads the NCAA by over a full second this year.
 
While Dover was excelling on the track, Shoemaker was dominating in the throwing events. Her finest performance of the weekend came in the shot put when she launched a 12.53-meter toss. That effort marked the longest throw by a Captain since 2007 and the third-finest mark all-time.
 
Along with her historic effort in the shot put, she also fired a 13.16-meter heave in the weight throw. Once again, that showing established a new PR and moved her to seventh on the program's all-time performance list.
 
In their careers, Dover and Shoemaker have established themselves as decorated student-athletes for the Captains. In the fall, Dover earned All-Conference and All-Region laurels as a member of the cross country team after securing All-American nods for his work on the Distance Medley Relay last year. Meanwhile, Shoemaker brought home All-Conference and All-Region honors for her work in the shot put last season.
 
Dover, Shoemaker, and the rest of their teammates will return to action on January 13 when the Captains host the CNU Quadrangular at the Freeman Center.
 
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