BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — LSU sprinter Muna Lee and Tennessee hurdler/sprinter Justin Gatlin were named the SEC Male and Female Freshmen Athletes of the Year for indoor track in the 2001 coaches’ awards voting, conducted by the league’s coaches.
Alabama distance runner David Kimani and South Carolina sprinter Demetria Washington earned the top Southeastern Conference Male and Female Athlete of the Year honors, respectively. Also, Arkansas coaches John McDonnell and Lance Harter were named SEC Men’s and Women’s Track Coaches of the Year, respectively.
Lee won the 200 meters at the SEC Indoor Championships, finished fourth in the 60 meters and was part of the Lady Tigers’ 3rd-place 4×400 meter relay.
The Kansas City, Mo. native, had the league’s top time in the 200-meters and the third best mark in the 60-meters during the indoor season. So far in the outdoor season, she has the league’s top time in the 100-meters and the 200-meters. She was the SEC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for Feb. 6.
Kimani, a sophomore from Nairobi, Kenya, was the NCAA Indoor Champion this season in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. He also was the leading individual scorer at the SEC Indoor Championships, earning 21.5 points winning the mile run and the 3,000 meters. So far in the outdoor season, Kimani has the SEC’s best time in the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters. He was the SEC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for Jan. 30.
Washington, a junior from Fayetteville, N.C., was the NCAA Indoor Champion this season in the 400 meters and was also a participant in South Carolina’s national champion 4×400 meter relay team, which set an NCAA record. She also won SEC Indoor titles in the 400 meters and was part of the Lady Gamecock’s 4×400 meter relay team which won the conference title. In the outdoors, Washington has the league’s third best time in the 400 meters, the eighth best time in the 200 meters and South Carolina’s 4×400 meter relay team has the best time in the SEC. She was the SEC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for Feb. 13.
Gatlin finished second at the SEC Indoor Championships in the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. The Pensacola, Fla. native, had the league’s second best time in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash during the indoor season.
So far in the outdoor season, Gatlin has the league’s second-best time in the 100-meter dash, fourth best in the 200-meters and fourth best in the 110-meter hurdles.
The 2001 SEC Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year honor for McDonnell is his eighth in the last nine seasons. The Razorbacks won their ninth SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship, outscoring second-place LSU, 108-81. The Razorbacks placed third at the NCAA Indoor Championships, just behind first-place LSU and second-place TCU. McDonnell’s Razorback teams have won 36 national championships, including 11 cross country, 16 indoor track and nine outdoor track. This year’s honor is the 34th conference Coach of the Year mention for McDonnell in his career.
Harter picks up his third SEC Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year honor. He previously won the award in 1998 and 2000. The Lady Razorbacks won their second SEC Indoor Track & Field Championship, outscoring second-place
Florida, 137-109. The Lady Razorbacks placed fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. In 2000 and 2001, Harter was selected as the National Coach of the Year by the United States Track Coaches Association for indoor track.
The 2001 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at the University of South Carolina in Columbia on May 10-13.