SEC Announces Outdoor Track And Field Awards
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 31, 2023) -----The Southeastern Conference on Wednesday announced its 2023 Outdoor Track and Field Awards, recognizing outstanding performances during the past outdoor season, as voted on by the league's 15 head coaches.
The men's award recipients include Ryan Willie of Florida (Runner of the Year), Jaydon Hibbert of Arkansas (Field Athlete of the Year and Freshman Field Athlete of the Year), Will Sumner of Georgia (Co-Freshman Runner of the Year), Ben Shearer of Arkansas (Co-Freshman Runner of the Year) and Chris Bucknam of Arkansas (Coach of the Year).
The women's award recipients include Britton Wilson of Arkansas (Runner of the Year), Jasmine Moore of Florida (Field Athlete of the Year), Kaila Jackson of Georgia (Freshman Runner of the Year), Alida van Daalen of Florida (Freshman Field Athlete of the Year) and Lance Harter of Arkansas (Coach of the Year).
It was previously announced that the Georgia's Matthew Boling and Arkansas' Ayden Owens-Delerme are the Men's Co-Scholar-Athletes of the Year and Florida's Talitha Diggs is the Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Willie was the SEC gold medalist in the 400m (44.27), in the 4x400 (2:57.76) and silver medalist in the 4x100 (37.93). Hibbert broke a 41-year old collegiate record in winning the SEC triple jump title with a world-leading 58-7.5 (17.84m). Sumner completed the SEC indoor-outdoor 800m sweep after registering the nation's second-fastest time of 1:46.20 at the SEC Championships. Shearer was a bronze medalist in the SEC 5000m, producing a career best 14:07.30.
Bucknam helped lead the Razorbacks to their 22nd SEC outdoor title with 149 points.
Wilson set a world best for one day double in the 400m and 400m hurdles with times of 49.13 and 53.28, respectively, at the SEC Championships. Moore won gold in both the long jump (6.88m/22-7) and the triple jump (14.14m/46-4.75) at the SEC Championships, setting a new school record in the triple jump. Jackson scored 14 points at the SEC Championships, taking silver in the 100m (11.04) and bronze in the 200m with a personal-best 22.65. Van Daalen won gold in the shot put (18.07m/59-3.5) and silver in the discus (59.02m/193-8) in the SEC Championships.
Harter helped guide the Razorbacks to their 10th SEC outdoor crown with a total of 134 points in his final season as head coach.
The 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place June 7-10 in Austin, Texas.
SEC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Awards
Runner of the Year: Ryan Willie, Florida
Field Athlete of the Year: Jaydon Hibbert, Arkansas
Co-Freshman Runner of the Year: Will Sumner, Georgia
Co-Freshman Runner of the Year: Ben Shearer, Arkansas
Freshman Field Athlete of the Year: Jaydon Hibbert, Arkansas
Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Matthew Boling, Georgia
Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ayden Owens-Delerme, Arkansas
Coach of the Year: Chris Bucknam, Arkansas
SEC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Awards
Runner of the Year: Britton Wilson, Arkansas
Field Athlete of the Year: Jasmine Moore, Florida
Freshman Runner of the Year: Kaila Jackson, Georgia
Freshman Field Athlete of the Year: Alida van Daalen, Florida
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Talitha Diggs, Florida
Coach of the Year: Lance Harter, Arkansas