Junior thrower Jillian Zukley from St. Mary’s College of Maryland earned United East Conference Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week honors Tuesday for her strong performance at the Stevenson University Mustang Stampede Invitational.
The league office in Latham, New York, announced the award April 21, 2026. Zukley, a 6-3 junior from Severna Park, Maryland, and a Severna Park High School graduate, won two events and placed second in another during the April 18 meet. This marks her fourth career outdoor field athlete of the week honor.
Zukley captured first place in the hammer throw with a distance of 41.12 meters. She also won the shot put with a season-best mark of 11.43 meters, a throw that currently ranks 14th in the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region and second in the United East Conference. She finished second in the discus throw with 32.91 meters.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the public honors college located in St. Mary’s City, continues its outdoor track and field season with strong representation from Southern Maryland athletes. Zukley’s achievements add to the program’s momentum in throwing events this spring.
The Seahawks return to competition Friday, April 24, 2026, at the prestigious Penn Relays hosted by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Sophomore Rocksann Smith will compete in the javelin throw at 5:15 p.m., while the women’s 4×100-meter relay team is scheduled to run at 7:35 p.m.
This latest weekly honor continues a pattern of success for St. Mary’s College throwers in the United East Conference during the 2025-26 season. Earlier outdoor field athlete of the week recipients from the Seahawks include sophomore Rocksann Smith on March 31 and April 7.
The full list of 2025-26 United East Conference Women’s Outdoor Field Athletes of the Week released by the league:
- March 24 – Mona Koko, Valley Forge, freshman.
- March 31 – Rocksann Smith, St. Mary’s College, sophomore.
- April 7 – Rocksann Smith, St. Mary’s College, sophomore.
- April 14 – Sydney Tayler, Carlow, junior.
- April 21 – Jillian Zukley, St. Mary’s College, junior.
Zukley’s performance at the Mustang Stampede highlighted her consistency across multiple throwing disciplines. Her shot put season-best moves her into strong regional and conference positioning as the season progresses toward conference championships.
Southern Maryland’s connection to collegiate athletics remains prominent through St. Mary’s College of Maryland programs. The college’s proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and its role as a public honors institution allow student-athletes like Zukley to balance rigorous academics with competitive sports.
Track and field teams from the college often compete in regional meets that draw athletes from across the Mid-Atlantic, providing valuable experience against Division III competition. The upcoming Penn Relays appearance offers another high-profile stage for SMCM athletes on a national platform known for its history and competitive depth.
