NEW ORLEANS —  Averett University men's track and field freshman Mark Linton earned NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field All-Region recognition in the discus event from the U.S.Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Friday.

Linton, a native of Orange Bay, Jamaica, helped rewrite the Cougars' record books over the course of his freshman campaign. Nationally ranked in the discus event throughout the season, Linton peaked as high as 16th in the D3 national rankings. Linton shined among his peers in addition to achieving national recognition, winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship in discus with a 44.69-meter throw. Linton dominated from start to finish for Averett, holding the top-five overall distances on the season, and in program history, including his record setting 49.32-meter throw at the 2024 Mount Olive Final Qualifier

Linton is the first Cougars in the program's two-year existence to earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors.