NEW ORLEANS – Coastal Carolina’s Amanda Kinloch and Arkansas State’s Carly Pujol earned recognition as the Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week for their performance last week. 

Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week

Amanda Kinloch, Coastal Carolina

(Sr. | Sprints/Hurdles | North Miami, Fla.) 

 

Coastal Carolina’s Amanda Kinloch won the 100 meter hurdles at the Charlotte Invitational with a time of 13.11, ranking second-best in school history. The North Miami, Fla. native moved into the top 25 with her time at No. 19. She also ran in the 4×100 meter relay, where the Chants finished third and ran the ninth-fastest time in school history with a time of 45.23.

Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

Carly Pujol, Arkansas State

(Grad. | Pole Vault | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)

 

Arkansas State’s Carly Pujol won the women’s pole vault at the Alumni Classic, clearing 4.06m/13-3.75 on her first attempt at the height. She continues to lead the Sun Belt Conference by nearly a foot in the event and is also tied for 15th in the West Region entering the week and top 30 in the nation. In eight of her last nine meets dating back to February, Pujol has finished third or better with five event victories after Saturday’s event crown.

2025 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week

Week 1 – Taejha Badal, Texas State

Week 2 – NaJ Watson, Georgia Southern

Week 3 – Shanyah Washington, Troy

Week 4 – Isabelle Russell, Louisiana

Week 5 – Abigail Parra, Texas State

Week 6 – Amanda Kinloch, Coastal Carolina

2025 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

Week 1 – Lara Check, Marshall

Week 2 – Melanie Duron, Texas State

Week 3 – Imani Moore, Georgia Southern

Week 4 – Imani Moore, Georgia Southern

Week 5 – Lara Roberts, Texas State

Week 6 – Carly Pujol, Arkansas State

By Weston Blasi

A bill exempting name, image and likeness earnings from state income tax has been signed into law in Arkansas

The fight in recruiting college athletes will now include taxes.

Colleges across the nation are locked in a constant battle over high school and college transfers to improve their sports teams, particularly in big revenue-generating sports like football and men’s basketball. Recruiting athletes is a tough endeavor, but colleges in Arkansas were just given a big edge.

Arkansas became the first state in the U.S. to enact a law that exempts name, image and likeness payments (NIL) from its state income tax. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, signed the bill into law in April, and it will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025 as part of the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act.

Under the new law, all NIL and university revenue-sharing funds received by student athletes will be exempt from state income tax. The legislation also mandates that financial details concerning payments to athletes will be kept confidential and are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

“Income received by a student athlete from an institution of higher education as compensation for the use of his or her name, image, or likeness or as a percentage of institutional athletic revenue permitted by the institution of higher education’s governing athletic association or conference under this subchapter is exempt from state income tax,” the law states.

The top state income-tax rate in Arkansas for individuals is 3.9%.

Of course, this is a state-only law, and any income an athlete earns from NIL deals are still subject federal income tax.

See: Here’s how much money Shedeur Sanders lost out on by falling to the fifth round of the NFL draft

What will the implementation of this new law actually do? Experts said it’s mainly about recruiting players.

“A state would do this to really prioritize college athletics,” Daniel S. Greene, an attorney who specializes in business and NIL, told MarketWatch. “It’s all about recruiting and giving your schools the best chance to bring in the best kids any way you can.”

No state income tax could could help coaches and NIL collectives in their recruiting process, particularly to athletes who care most about maximizing earnings.

“I’ve followed state legislatures closely, and the states down south really care about college athletics, and they really want their football teams to be super competitive,” Greene said. “They can say to their kids, ‘Hey come here, there’s also no taxes.'”

Tim Frith, a sports attorney at WLJ Sports Law, said this new regulation could be a “major recruiting tool for schools in Arkansas.”

But one lawmaker in Arkansas said that the new law won’t give Arkansas an unfair advantage over rivals – instead it will even the playing field. That’s because some nearby states that Arkansas competes with for top college athletes don’t have any state income tax at all.

The tax exemption will assist Arkansas schools in attracting athletes that bring “a significant amount of revenue to the state,” Arkansas Senate President Bart Hester said. And it also will help Arkansas schools “keep up with Tennessee and Texas and other states that do not have a state income tax,” he added.

In other states, such as Alabama, Georgia, Illinois and Louisiana, similar bills have been introduced but have not yet been signed into law.

Read on: Gen Z workers want to make $100,000 in their first job out of college. Four tips from experts on how to get there.

The move by Arkansas comes as the the NIL system surrounding college athletics is being stressed.

Top college football players are now earning millions annually through NIL deals. For instance, University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck’s NIL value is $4.3 million, and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith’s is $4 million, according to On3.

The NCAA recently approved rule changes in April that could significantly alter college sports. These proposals involve revising NIL guidelines and establishing a revenue-sharing model where schools could distribute $20.5 million across all athletes in all sports.

In an unprecedented event this month, a college quarterback effectively held out for a better NIL contract, a tactic usually seen in professional sports. Former University of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava missed practice and subsequently transferred to UCLA due to discontent with his NIL earnings and his situation with the team.

“I’m not certain that this is going to become very common, as collectives have become wiser and craftier in the creation of their contracts, which tend to seek to avoid situations like this,” Darren Heitner, a lawyer who brokers NIL deals for student athletes, told MarketWatch about the holdout. “I have seen many such arrangements where collectives seek to claw back monies paid out or even receive liquidated damages, but I wonder whether athletes will be deterred unless/until a major action is initiated to enforce such language.”

See: Some Americans are stockpiling $220 sneakers before Trump’s tariffs raise prices even higher

Read on: Here’s how much money Paige Bueckers and the other WNBA 2025 draft picks will earn

-Weston Blasi

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Philadelphia, PA. – Felician men’s and women’s track and field programs headed down to compete in the Penn Relays with three-top 10 finishes. 

The men’s 4x400m team placed sixth with a time of 3:27.70. The team featured Jake DeJulia, Amair Buffaloe, Luke Chambers, and Samuel Yepps.

The women’s team had two top-five finishes, claiming fourth place in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Darrian Lewis, Chimeremya Odoh, Aarysa Moore, and Chantoya Thomas headlined the 48.98 finish in the 4x100m. Lewis and Thomas also contributed in the 4x400m with Imani Fitzpatrick and Mia Martinez, finishing at 3:57.92.

The teams’ performances place the men’s 4x400m relay team third in the CACC, as the women’s 4x400m relay team leads the conference.

Susquehanna, Pa. – The Gophers will be traveling to Susquehanna University to compete in the Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The meet will take place May 3rd and 4th with tickets available at the link below. Tickets will need to be purchased for each day of the track meet. Admission will be $10 for adults 18+ and $5 for anyone 10-17 years old. Multiple field events and prelims will be on Satruday. Many of the  finals and award presentation will take place on Sunday. We hope to you there supporting the Gophers this weekend!

Tickets: https://landmarkconference.org/sports/2022/4/25/championships-tickets.aspx?path=champs

Schedule: https://landmarkconference.org/documents/2025/4/7//25_OTF_Champ_Schedule.pdf?id=2639

Live Stream: https://www.flocollege.com/signup?redirect=%2Flive%2F161792&utm_campaign=704376landmarkoutdoor&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=multiple&utm_content=signup&contract_id=0063m00000u4k10aaa&coverage_id=14039369&sp=&sp=conf-partner

To Apply: Send a cover letter, a current résumé, and a statement of faith to:   Dr. Tim Sceggel, timsceggel@letu.edu

DUTIES: Responsible for the leadership and development of student athletes including:

Discipleship

Striving to ensure the development of the spiritual, academic and athletic aspects of all student-athletes

Counseling team members in disciplinary, academic, or personal matters while consulting with LETU administration on matters requiring resolution of problems.

Recruiting

Achieving assigned roster numbers

Recruiting and retaining highly skilled student-athletes consistent with the LETU philosophy and standards

Excellence

Work to ensure we are the most effective and most successful athletic department in the American Southwest Conference in all facets

Preparing the student-athletes in the analyses of specific sport analyses and planning strategies accordingly

Preparing student-athletes physically by instructing proper strength and conditioning

Service

Regularly serve in the department in any area needed, including spiritual development, home events oversight, and fundraising activities

Providing academic support and tutoring to student athletes in the program

Providing and working with student-athletes in opportunities to serve the community

Administrative Effectiveness

Ensuring compliance with the University, ASC Conference and NCAA policies and regulations

Assist the Director in determining fiscal requirements and budgetary recommendations for the team, while monitoring, verifying, and reconciling expenditures of budgeted funds

Coordinating the scheduling, planning and management of home and away contests with the Director of T/F

Monitoring academic progress and act as a liaison to the program

Performing other duties as requested by the Director of T/F or VP for Athletics

QUALIFICATIONS:

LeTourneau University seeks a person with an enthusiastic and contagious Christian faith committed to a Christian higher education that integrates Christian faith with learning.  

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred. 

• 1-2 years of related experience, preferably in the coaching of athletic programs at the collegiate level. 

• Ability to be a dynamic leader within the athletic department 

• Strong organizational ability 

• Ability to work cooperatively with other administrators, coaches, students, and faculty members. 

• Good written and oral communication skills. 

• A strong understanding of and commitment to NCAA Division III. 

• An acceptance of and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and other qualifications.  LeTourneau University offers an innovative healthcare package with many options, personal budget, telemedicine, year-round support, and more.  LeTourneau University also provides life insurance, contribution to a retirement program, and tuition assistance. 

To apply: Send a cover letter, a current résumé, and a statement of faith to:  

Dr. Tim Sceggel

timsceggel@letu.edu

About LeTourneau University

Claiming every workplace in every nation as their mission field, LeTourneau University graduates are professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life’s work as a holy calling with eternal impact.

LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christ-centered university offering more than 140 programs that prepare students for success in areas including aviation, biblical studies, business, criminal justice, education, engineering, health science, kinesiology, liberal arts, nursing, psychology and science.

Graduate degree offerings include business administration, counseling, education, engineering, psychology and strategic leadership.

In addition to its residential campus in Longview, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs online and at our educational center in Plano.

The university’s 3,175 students represent nearly all 50 states, 35 countries and 50 different denominational groups.

Connections working at LeTourneau University