Okolo named USTFCCCA co-National Athlete of the Week

NEW ORLEANS – Courtney Okolo was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) co-National Female Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

Okolo, who shared the award with Olivia Ekponé of Texas A&M, helped lead the second-ranked Texas women's team to the league outdoor title with a record-setting performance.

Okolo set the outdoor collegiate record in the 400 meters during Sunday's action in Lubbock, Texas. The sophomore clocked a winning time of 50.03 seconds in a final that produced three of the top four times on the 2014 NCAA performer's list. Okolo's time is also first on the 2014 IAAF World performance list.

During Saturday's 400-meter prelim, she clocked a time of 50.76, which snapped the Big 12 meet record of 51.09 and eclipsed her own national-leading time of 51.36 posted at the Texas Invitational (April 12).

With the Big 12 team title sewn up Sunday, the Longhorns did not participate in the 4x400-meter relay, an event in which they have the top time in the nation (3:25.05) with Okolo as the second leg.

Okolo did compete in the 200 meters and finished eighth in 23.33w (+4.3 meters per second). She ranks 16th on the 2014 NCAA performer's list in that event with her time of 23.04w (+3.1 mps) at the Longhorn Invitational.

The Longhorns are off next weekend and will gear up for the NCAA West Preliminary Round, set for May 29-31 in Fayetteville, Ark.

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

Okolo named USTFCCCA co-National Athlete of the Week