MACON, Ga. (May 3, 2006) - Senior James Rainer (Alcoa, Tenn.) and junior Daniel Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) have both garnered Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week honors, announced by conference offices on Wednesday. 

Rainer wins the award for the week of April 24, following his performance at the Vanderbilt Invitational, while Williams is the recipient for the week of May 1, after his record-breaking effort at the Knoxville Invitational.

Rainer came out on top of a strong 100-meter field on April 22, racing to a time of 10.43 seconds to best Middle Tennessee State's Van Fraley, who finished in 10.49.  The victory was the fifth individual-event win of the season for Rainer, who has taken the blue ribbon in four 100 competitions. 

Rainer, along with teammates Johnny Tucker (Spartanburg, S.C.), Michael Wright (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Tyler Woodruff (Sevierville, Tenn.), combined to finish fourth in the 4x100, clocking a season-best time of 40.82.  Middle Tennessee State recorded the event victory with a regional-qualifying time of 39.82.

Williams' cleared a career-best and school-record height of 15-9 (4.80m) to take third place in the pole vault competition at the Knoxville Invitational last Sunday. Williams, the only ETSU athlete to compete on Sunday, had previously tied the school record at the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Championships, surpassing 15-5 (4.70m). 

The award is the fourth of the year for Rainer and the first for Williams.  The Bucs have several options for next weekend, with chances to compete at the Jesse Owens Classic in Columbus, Ohio, and the Orange and Purple Classic in Clemson, S.C.