Jonas Honored as Top Male Athlete

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? With the release of the Big 12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field awards on Friday, Nebraska senior Dusty Jonas added one more honor to his illustrious career. The La Vernia, Texas, native was selected as the top men’s performer of the outdoor season.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Jonas has been on a tear since the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships, where he won his first national title with a leap of 7-7 (2.31). He kept momentum going into the outdoor season, by tying the school record with a then personal-best jump of 7-6 1/2 in the Invitational Division of the Drake Relays.

 

Jonas continued to soar by clearing 7-8 3/4 (2.36) at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Boulder, Colo., on May 18, to break the school record, Big 12 Outdoor Championship meet record and conference record. Jonas’ record-breaking Big 12 performance is also the top mark in the world this year.

 

He will continue preparation for the 2008 NCAA Midwest Regional, which will be in Lincoln on May 30-31. Following the regional, Jonas will head to Des Moines, Iowa, in search of the NCAA outdoor high jump title.

During the indoor and outdoor season, the league coaches vote on the top male and female coach, athlete and freshmen of the season. Mark Wetmore was honored as the top coach on the men’s side after leading his team to its first Big 12 title. On the women’s side, Texas A&M’s Pat Henry won the award for the second straight year. Jonas was joined by Porscha Lucas of Texas A&M as the top athlete on the female side. Lucas ran a world best 22.29 in the 200-meter dash surpassing the former Big 12 Outdoor Championships record set by teammate Simone Facey last year. Texas A&M added more awards as both freshman of the year honorees came from the Aggies. Gerald Phiri and Jessica Beard earned top frosh accolades.