June 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky senior thrower Rashaud Scott was named the Southeast Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Monday afternoon.
The USTFCCCA award is the first for Scott, who will defend his men’s discus national title this weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held at host University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend.
Only eight men in the world have thrown the discus further than Scott in sanctioned competitions this year.
Last month at the Mideast Regional, Scott became a dual-event champion by qualifying for nationals in both the men’s shot put and discus. The Bronx, N.Y., native secured his second straight discus regional championship with a personal-best throw of 216-2 that broke the UK varsity record and currently leads the nation. Scott’s winning shot put mark of 62-1.25 ranks eighth nationally. His current rankings match where Scott finished last season at the 2008 Championships, when he won the national title in discus and placed eighth in the shot put.
At the 2009 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Scott added more hardware to his collection after claiming the conference discus title in Gainesville, Fla. Scott’s throw of 194-4 topped the competition by over 11 feet. The conference crown was the first of his career. In the shot put at SECs, Scott threw a personal-best mark of 62-2.25 on his third throw to place second overall. As a result, he moved into a fifth-place tie all-time at UK in the event. Scott earned All-SEC honors for both events.
The USTFCCCA honors the top track and field athletes along with the top head coaches and assistant coaches in nine Division I regions. A total of 73 men’s and women’s student-athletes and coaches were recognized this year. The USTFCCCA awards are voted on by coaches within their respective region.
Follow Scott and his Wildcat teammates this weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships beginning Wednesday.
Click UKathletics.com for the latest track and field updates from nationals this weekend.
