SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI's Johnnie Walker and Ariana Ruffin were named the Southern Conference men's and women's indoor track athletes of the week, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.

Selections were made by panels of the league's track and field coaches and included competition held Feb. 15-16. They are the final selections of the indoor season, as the league squads turn their attention to the SoCon Indoor Track Championships at VMI's Corps Physical Training Facility this Saturday and Sunday.

VMI's Walker competed at the Virginia Tech Challenge in Blacksburg, Virginia, winning the 400-meter run and finishing seventh in the 200-meter dash. The freshman from Stafford, Virginia, posted a season-best time of 49.82 seconds to win the 400m on Saturday, good for fifth on the SoCon performance list this season entering the SoCon Championship. On Friday, Walker turned in a time of 23.13 seconds in the 200m.

Ruffin also competed in the 200m and 400m at the Virginia Tech Challenge. The sophomore from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, posted a lifetime-best time in the 200m on Friday, finishing sixth in the event in 25.26 seconds. She also finished sixth in the 400m, turning in a time of 58.00 seconds. Her 200m time was good for seventh on the SoCon performance list, while her 400m effort ranks fifth in the league so far this season.

The Citadel's Sam Blumer was named the SoCon men's field athlete of the week. There were no submissions for the women's field athlete of the week award.

2018-19 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week

Men's track

Jan. 17    Ben Varghese, ETSU

Jan. 23    Owen Bailey, Samford

Jan. 30    Chace Washington-Saunders, Western Carolina

Feb. 6      Ben Varghese, ETSU

Feb. 13    Frank Lara, Furman

Feb. 20    Johnnie Walker, VMI

Men's field

Jan. 17    Longinus Nnodim, Wofford

Jan. 23    Ben Johnson, ETSU

Jan. 30    Trini Feggett, Western Carolina

Feb. 6      Conrad Heinrich, Wofford

Feb. 13    Ben Johnson, ETSU

Feb. 20    Sam Blumer, The Citadel

Women's track

Jan. 17    Karisa Nelson, Samford

Jan. 23    Karisa Nelson, Samford

Jan. 30    Karisa Nelson, Samford

Feb. 6      Hannah Steelman, Wofford

Feb. 13    Savannah Carnahan, Furman

Feb. 20    Ariana Ruffin, VMI

Women's field

Jan. 17    Jackie Barnes, Samford

Jan. 23    Sarah Leckman, VMI

Jan. 23    Victoria Solheim, Western Carolina

Feb. 6      Maggie Johnston, Samford

Feb. 13    Mekayla Brown, ETSU

Feb. 20    No nominees