WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Atlantic 10 Conference has named Dayton freshman sprinter Simone Bessong to its All-Rookie team for her performance in the 60m and 200m at the A-10 indoor championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Florence, Kentucky native medaled three times during the weekend, as she finished third in the 60m, second in the 200m, and anchored the 4x400m team that took third place.
 
During her historic freshman indoor campaign, Bessong was honored as A-10 Rookie of the Week three times. In her collegiate debut at the Tiger Opener, she ran the third fastest 60m time in school history, 7.48, and was a member of the school record-breaking 4x200m team. Her first individual collegiate win came at the Wolverine Invitational, where she won the 200m in 24.36, the third-fastest indoor time in program history. She would beat that 200m time a week later at the Hoosier Horsepower Classic in Indianapolis, going 24.28 to finish fourth overall. Her first collegiate open 400m came at the Heartland Invitational, as she ran a time of 56.44, which is good enough to rank third in Flyer history. At the end of her debut season, her PRs of 7.48 in the 60m, 23.96 in the 200m, and 56.44 in the 400m all rank in the top three in program history. She also holds two school records as a member of relay teams, in the 4x200m and 4x400m.
 
Bessong and the rest of the Flyers will begin their outdoor season on March 20, when they travel to Oxford, Ohio, for the Blizzard Buster, hosted by Miami University.