SIUE's Ward Named OVC Field Athlete of the Week

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - SIUE's La'Derrick Ward (Cahokia) was named Ohio Valley Conference Male Field Athlete of the Week after his performance at the Hilltopper Relays Saturday.

Ward picks up his second weekly honor during the outdoor season after breaking his own school record in the long jump with a leap of 25 feet, 2 inches.

He currently has the 11th-ranked jump in the country. It is the third-best in the nation by a freshman.

Ward also became the first in school history to clear the 25-foot mark and the first to do so as a member of the OVC since John Berry of Southeast Missouri jumped 25-5.5 at the 2008 OVC Outdoor Championships.

Ward shares the weekly award with Mick Viken of Eastern Illinois.