ATLANTA – Following her record-breaking heptathlon performance, Eastern Kentucky University junior Emma García-Palencia has been named the ASUN Co-Female Field Athlete of the Week.
 
Garcia-Palencia broke the EKU heptathlon record with 5,016 points at the Duke Invitational over the weekend. Her score broke the previous record of 4,916 points, set by Alena Galertova in 2016.
 
The native of Benicassim, Spain recorded personal-bests in the 100-meter hurdles (14.84), 200 meters (26.05), and long jump (17-6.75) during the historic performance. She finished fourth out of a strong field of 17 competitors, losing only to collegiate athletes from Harvard and Duke.
 
The 5,016 points is currently tops in the ASUN, and it ranks Garcia-Palencia at No. 22 in the NCAA East Region.
 
Garcia-Palencia won gold in the heptathlon at the 2021 OVC Outdoor Championships. She was the silver medalist in the pentathlon at the 2022 ASUN Indoor Championships.
 
She shared this week's honor with Liberty jumper Ayanna Johnson.