FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — LSU quarter-miler Alleyne Francique was named the men’s National Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year Tuesday evening by the United States Track Coaches of America.
Francique shattered the NCAA record in the 400-meter dash two weeks ago at the SEC Indoor Championships and owns the top time in the nation and the world heading into this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships.
Francique became the first LSU athlete to win the honor.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment for (Alleyne) Francique,” said LSU head coach Pat Henry. “It’s the highest honor an athlete can get in the sport, the equivalent of winning the Heisman Trophy in football, so when you put it in that kind of category, it’s a wonderful feat.”
In addition to running the open quarter, Francique is also anchor to the nation and the world’s top ranked 4×400-meter relay
“It means a lot because Coach Henry told me that this is the fourth time that we’ve had someone nominated and the first time that LSU had someone win,” said Francique. “I thought I had a chance to win. I broke an NCAA record and I knew that that would mean a lot to the people voting on this. It’s definitely flattering to win this award.”
Francique will try and guide his team to a second straight NCAA Indoor crown at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday and Saturday and will attempt to become LSU’s first NCAA champion in the 400-meter dash.
In addition, Muna Lee received women’s women’s Central Regional Indoor Athlete of the Year honors. The sophomore All-American won the 60 and 200-meter titles at the SEC Championships two weeks ago.
Lee enters with the top time in the nation in the 200 and ranks second in the 60-meter dash and will be one of the key ingredients in the Lady Tigers’ quest for the ninth NCAA Indoor crown this weekend and their first since 1997.
Demetria Washington of South Carolina won the women’s National Athlete of the Year honors.