LEXINGTON, Ky. ? University of Kentucky freshman Michael Mason earned two athlete of the year awards in as many days. Mason was voted Men?s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year, announced Friday by the Southeastern Conference, and was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year by the True Sport Foundation at the 32nd Annual Canadian Sports Awards (CSA).

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 SEC honor was awarded to Mason for his outstanding outdoor season. He set the UK freshman 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 Championship.

Florida swept SEC Men’s and Women’s Runner of the Year awards as Gators Kerron Clement and Tiandra Ponteen earned the honors following stellar indoor seasons. Auburn?s Maurice Smith and Tennessee?s Tianna Madison claimed SEC Men’s and Women’s Field Event Athlete of the Year awards, and LSU?s Xavier Carter and Tennessee?s Courtney Champion were voted SEC Men’s and Women’s Freshman Runners of the Year. Shaka Dennison of Georgia joined Mason in the freshman field event athlete of the year category, receiving the SEC Women’s Freshman Field Event Athlete of the Year honor. All awards were determined by a vote of the conference head coaches.

In addition, Arkansas? head track coach John McDonnell was named SEC Men?s Indoor Coach of the Year, with Tennessee?s J.J. Clark being named SEC Women?s Indoor Coach of the Year, also by a vote of the conference head coaches.

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