Ekholm, Hall and Steiner Earn Southeast Region Yearly Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Abby Steiner, Ellen Ekholm and assistant coach Tim Hall were awarded three yearly regional honors by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their performances during the indoor season.
Steiner earned Southeast Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year after winning the Southeastern Conference in the women’s 200-meter last weekend with the NCAA’s No. 1 time of 22.57. Ekholm was named Southeast Region Women’s Field Athlete of the Year after winning the SEC in the women’s high jump with the NCAA’s No. 1 mark of 6-3.25 (1.91m). Hall earned Southeast Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year after a successful season coaching up the sprinters.
These awards will be presented at the NCAA’s pre-championship banquet on March 12 at 9 p.m. ET in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Under head coach Lonnie Greene’s direction, Kentucky has earned seven USTFCCCA Southeast Region indoor awards over the last two seasons. The Wildcats qualified 14 entries, including Ekholm and Steiner, into the 2020 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 13-14 in Albuquerque at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
ESPN3 will stream the championships live starting at 7:15 p.m. ET on March 13 and starting at 6 p.m. on March 14. A re-air of the championships will take place starting at 9 p.m. on March 16 on ESPNU.
Southeast Region Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year
Abby Steiner stole the show at the 2020 SEC Indoor Championships last weekend by winning the women’s 200m with the fastest time in the world this season (22.57) which is also a school record. Steiner was named SEC Female Runner of the Week once this season and was named First Team All-SEC thanks to her performances. Steiner is also a member of the 4x400m relay team with the No. 2 time in the NCAA this season (3:29.74).
Southeast Region Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year
Ellen Ekholm’s 6-3.25 (1.91m) high jump mark is the No. 1 mark in the NCAA and won her the 2020 SEC Indoor Championships in her event. Ekholm is undefeated in all six of her high jump competitions this season and holds the school record. She has been named SEC Female Field Athlete of the Week three times.
Southeast Region Women’s Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year
Assistant coach Tim Hall earned this award for the third time in his career with Kentucky (2014, 2019). Hall coached Abby Steiner (200m) and Alexis Holmes (400m) to SEC titles last weekend. The 4x400m relay team has the No. 2 time in the NCAA this season while Celera Barnes, Holmes, Megan Moss, Masai Russell and Steiner all qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
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