BATON ROUGE — She has yet to step on the track in the purple and gold, but LSU’s highly touted freshman sprinter Ashley Owens continues to rack up prep honors, as she was named the 2004 Girl’s Prep Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News on Tuesday.
The freshman out of Colorado Springs, Colo., concluded a sensational senior campaign in July winning 100-meter titles at both the USA and World Junior Championships. She was undefeated in the event during the outdoor season, posting a junior world-leading mark of 11.13 seconds.
The 5-2, Liberty High School product was just as outstanding during the indoor season, going undefeated in the 60-meter dash while setting the national high school record in the event at 7.19.
“We are excited to have Ashley with us,” said LSU head track and field coach Dennis Shaver. “She has an excellent technical background in sprinting from working with her club coach Tony Wells and her father, Gerald.
“Not only does she make up for the graduated seniors like Muna Lee and Stephanie Durst, but she has already meshed in well with the team.”
The LSU track and field team begins its season, Jan. 15, at the Purple Tiger Invitational.