LEXINGTON, Ky. ? University of Kentucky freshman Michael Mason added another athlete of the year honor to his resume, as he claimed the SEC Outdoor Men?s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year award, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday. Mason swept the SEC Men?s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year category in his inaugural season as a Wildcat.
Earlier this year Mason was voted the SEC Indoor Men?s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year and was also named Junior Male Athlete of the Year by the True Sport Foundation at the 32nd Annual Canadian Sports Awards (CSA).
In his second SEC Championships appearance, the Canadian took runner-up honors as he earned his second All-SEC honor and broke the outdoor freshman school record with his leap of 7-2 ?. That leap allowed Mason to make his first appearance at the Mideast Regional, where he tied for sixth, and at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Mason was awarded the CSA honor for his performance at the 2004 World Junior Track and Field Championships. The Nanoose Bay, B.C., native was crowned men?s high jump champion for his career-best leap of 7-3. Mason was one of three nominees for the Junior Male Athlete of the Year Award that recognized and celebrated outstanding athletic performances in 2004.
The first SEC Field Event Athlete of the Year honor was awarded to Mason for his outstanding indoor season. He set the UK freshman indoor record in the high jump with a mark of 7-2 ? and was the SEC Indoor Championship runner-up with a jump of 7-2 ?. Mason also finished 12th in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The SEC awards are voted on by the league?s head coaches.
2005 SEC Men?s Outdoor Track and Field Postseason Awards
SEC Men’s Runner of the Year – Kerron Clement, Florida
SEC Men’s Field Event Athlete of the Year – Edis Elkasevic, Auburn
SEC Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year – Xavier Carter, LSU
SEC Men’s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year – Michael Mason, Kentucky
SEC Men?s Scholar Athlete of the Year – Janus Uudmae, Arkansas
SEC Men’s Outdoor Track Coach of the Year – John McDonnell, Arkansas
2005 SEC Women?s Outdoor Track and Field Postseason Awards
SEC Women’s Runner of the Year – Aneita Denton, Arkansas
SEC Women’s Field Event Athlete of the Year – Beth Mallory, Alabama
SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year – Cleo Tyson, Tennessee
SEC Women’s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year – Sigrun Fjelsted, Georgia
SEC Women?s Scholar Athlete of the Year – Josie Hahn, Vanderbilt
SEC Women’s Outdoor Track Coach of the Year – Curtis Frye, South Carolina
