HIRAM, Ohio – January 27, 2026 -  Hiram women's track and field team took down its first PAC Athlete of the Week award since returning to the Presidents' Athletic Conference on Monday afternoon, as senior thrower Sam Volpe landed PAC Field Athlete of the Week honors following a record-setting performance this past Saturday at the Spire Midwest Open.

The junior from Concord, OH opened the calendar year by breaking her own school record. Volpe came out victorious in the shot put event, beating multiple Division I and Division II athletes on the way to setting a new personal best and a school record with a throw of 12.92 meters. This is the second meet in a row where she has broken her own record. She threw for 12.17 meters at the Toy Drive Open at Mount Union on Dec. 6, 2025, beating her previous record of 11.71 meters. This time around she improved from 12.17 meters to 12.92 meters at the SPIRE Midwest Open in Geneva, OH.

Volpe is currently ranked fourth in the D-III Great Lakes Region and 23rd nationally amongst all of Division III. She is on a trajectory to be in the mix for nationals, as the top-20 advance to the national championships. The 2025 All-NCAC discus selection currently sits in first place in the shot put rankings in the PAC.

Hiram's track and field team is back in action this Friday at the Taraschke Team Challenge in Berea, OH.