Spring Break
Georgia's Lawrence named South Region track athlete of the year
Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Sports
A day before Georgia freshman sprinter Torrin Lawrence competes in his first NCAA Championships, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named him the Men's South Region Track Athlete of the Year on Thursday.
This award comes days after the Southeastern Conference named Lawrence the Male Freshman Runner of the Year.
"I think this award represents a stepping stone and another sign of progression for Torrin," said head coach Wayne Norton, who will be in attendance as Lawrence attempts to win the Bulldogs their first NCAA indoor sprints title. "He has won at the SEC level and now is getting recognition from outside the conference because that is what it takes to win an award like this. I don't think this adds anymore pressure to him, it's just another stage for him to show what he is capable of doing."
Lawrence, a 6-foot-1 native of Jacksonville, Fla., was given the SEC award after capturing Georgia its first indoor 200-meter dash title in school history at the league meet on March 1. He clocked an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 20.81 to win the Bulldogs their first championship in the 200 during any season since Mel Lattany recorded an outdoor conference crown in 1981.
Also the anchor leg on Georgia's 4x400 relay team that broke the school record (3:07.45) at the SEC meet, Lawrence is No. 2 on the NCAA's 200 performance list and on the world¹s list (oversized track) with a school-record time of 20.77. He is also No. 4 in the nation in the 400 46.18).
In Georgia's record books, Lawrence is already No. 1 in the 200, No. 2 in the 400, tied for third in the 60 (6.75) and No. 1 in the 4x400 relay. He has won at least one event at all six meets he has competed in this season, including wins in three different individual events as well as three victories in the relay, and is undefeated in both the 200 and 400.
Lawrence joins Patricia Sylvester, who was the 2007 Women's South Region co-Field Athlete of the Year indoors, and Jenny Dahlgren, who was the 2007 Women's East Region Field Athlete of the Year outdoors, as recent Georgia recipients of USTFCCCA awards.
Lawrence competes at the NCAA Indoor Championships (College Station, Texas) n the 200 prelims at 7:45 EDT on Friday night and in the event's finals at 9:10 p.m. He also joins senior Justin Gaymon, senior Michael Proctor and fellow freshman Phillip Adams in the 4x400 relay finals at 8:25 on Saturday night.
- Georgia Sports Communications
This award comes days after the Southeastern Conference named Lawrence the Male Freshman Runner of the Year.
"I think this award represents a stepping stone and another sign of progression for Torrin," said head coach Wayne Norton, who will be in attendance as Lawrence attempts to win the Bulldogs their first NCAA indoor sprints title. "He has won at the SEC level and now is getting recognition from outside the conference because that is what it takes to win an award like this. I don't think this adds anymore pressure to him, it's just another stage for him to show what he is capable of doing."
Lawrence, a 6-foot-1 native of Jacksonville, Fla., was given the SEC award after capturing Georgia its first indoor 200-meter dash title in school history at the league meet on March 1. He clocked an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 20.81 to win the Bulldogs their first championship in the 200 during any season since Mel Lattany recorded an outdoor conference crown in 1981.
Also the anchor leg on Georgia's 4x400 relay team that broke the school record (3:07.45) at the SEC meet, Lawrence is No. 2 on the NCAA's 200 performance list and on the world¹s list (oversized track) with a school-record time of 20.77. He is also No. 4 in the nation in the 400 46.18).
In Georgia's record books, Lawrence is already No. 1 in the 200, No. 2 in the 400, tied for third in the 60 (6.75) and No. 1 in the 4x400 relay. He has won at least one event at all six meets he has competed in this season, including wins in three different individual events as well as three victories in the relay, and is undefeated in both the 200 and 400.
Lawrence joins Patricia Sylvester, who was the 2007 Women's South Region co-Field Athlete of the Year indoors, and Jenny Dahlgren, who was the 2007 Women's East Region Field Athlete of the Year outdoors, as recent Georgia recipients of USTFCCCA awards.
Lawrence competes at the NCAA Indoor Championships (College Station, Texas) n the 200 prelims at 7:45 EDT on Friday night and in the event's finals at 9:10 p.m. He also joins senior Justin Gaymon, senior Michael Proctor and fellow freshman Phillip Adams in the 4x400 relay finals at 8:25 on Saturday night.
- Georgia Sports Communications
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