Ash, Shump Sweep Big 12 Honors
NORMAN, Okla. — After both claiming event titles at last weekend’s prestigioius Texas Relays, Ronnie Ash and Karen Shump swept this week’s Big 12 Track Athlete of the Week awards the conference announced Tuesday. The two gave the Oklahoma Track and Field program its second and third awards of the season as it became the first program to sweep the outdoor awards since Texas Tech accomplished the feat on May 13, 2008. OU is the only team this season to earn multiple Athlete of the Week honors as Amy Backel earned the award on March 23.
Ash earned the honor with his win in the 110-meter hurdles Saturday as the junior clocked the fastest collegiate time in the nation, crossing the line at 13.50. The time is also the second fastest this year among American athletes and the third fastest in the world. Ash, who is undefeated this season in the event, automatically qualified for the 2010 Track and Field Championships with the time.
Entering the Texas Relays as the program record holder in the shot put as just a redshirt-freshman, Shump extended her record Saturday by over a half foot as she won the event with a throw of 55-7.50 (16.95). The throw automatically qualified the Media, Pa., native for the Track and Field Championships and ranks second nationally.
Oklahoma returns to action this weekend when the team splits to Tempe, Ariz., and Fayetteville, Ark., for the Sun Angel Track Classic and John McDonnell Invitational.
Updated 04-06-2010
READER COMMENTS
