Bougard Claims SEC Women’s Field Athlete Of The Year Honors STARKVILLE, Miss. – After a winning performance at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Mississippi State’s junior Erica Bougard picked up this year’s SEC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year award, the league announced on Friday. Bougard won the SEC pentathlon title with a nation-leading score of 4,458, becoming the first MSU athlete to win the event at SEC Indoors. Not only does her score rank her No. 1 in the nation, but her performance marked the ninth-best score in collegiate history. Bougard improved the MSU record (previously 4,399) set by the Byhalia, Miss., native during her championship performance at last year’s NCAA Indoors. “This is awesome and such an honor,” Bougard said. “This goes to show that hard work really does pay off.” The junior also ranks sixth nationally in the women’s long jump with a leap of 20-11.25. With the award, Bougard also claimed First-Team All-SEC honors, along with senior Rochelle Farquharson, who recently won the SEC long jump title. Farquharson posted a personal-best 21-00.75 at the conference championships to land her a spot in third on the MSU all-time indoor list. Also collecting honors, Ocian Archer, Katie Huston and Rhianwedd Price were selected to the All-SEC Second Team. The trio, plus Bougard, comprised the MSU women’s distance medley team that broke an 11-year-old school record at the Tyson Invitational in February. The group clocked an 11:15.34 in the event. “I am truly blessed to finish my indoor season off so well,” Archer said. “It was my first time running an indoor season doing the 800-meter run, and I knew that doing the 800 in the distance medley relay was going to build my strength. I am very honored to be a part of a great team, a great relay, and most importantly, I’m honored to be a Bulldog.” As a freshman, Price has made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs. In addition to her role on the distance relay, she also ranks No. 30 in the country in the women’s one mile (4:39.37). That speed places her second on the school’s all-time indoor performance list. “What a great group of women to receive recognition,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “These athletes always give it their all at practice and in competitions. Their dedication is certainly being rewarded, and I’m really proud of them.” For more information and complete lists of awards, fans can visit SECDigitalNetwork. Stay updated with current news on the MSU track and field team by following the Bulldogs on Twitter (@HailStateTF) and Instagram (HailStateTF). Mississippi State Track and Field Contact: Sarah Layne (662-325-0540)
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:09:53 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015