The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Track and Field sweeps Big 12 Outdoor awards
05.22.2014 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Okolo voted the outstanding performer of the league outdoor meet, Baisden tabbed the freshman of the year, and Sategna the top women’s coach after leading Texas to the title
IRVING, Texas – The top-ranked Texas women's track and field team swept the Big 12 Conference outdoor postseason awards after winning the league title last weekend in Lubbock, Texas.
After setting the collegiate record in winning the 400 meters, sophomore Courtney Okolo was voted the Big 12 Outstanding Outdoor Performer of the Year by the league's coaches, Kendall Baisden scored in three events and was the tabbed the freshman of the year, and Mario Sategna claimed the conference women's coach of the year award after leading the Longhorns to their eighth Big 12 outdoor title.
Texas earned a sweep of the 2014 awards in women's track and field. Following a team victory in March at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, Baisden earned the top indoor freshman award, Sategna coach of the year and Marielle Hall the outstanding performer for her victories in the mile and 3,000 meters at the two-day indoor meet in Ames, Iowa.
Okolo set a meet record in Saturday's 400-meter prelim by cruising home in 50.76 seconds, but saved her best for Sunday's final when she blazed across the finish line in 50.03, the best time ever at a collegiate outdoor meet.
Okolo also joined Baisden on the victorious 4x100-meter relay unit that clocked a season-best time of 43.54.
Baisden was second in the 400 in a personal-best 50.46, but that time ranks second on the all-time U.S. Junior list and ninth on the all-time collegiate outdoor performer's chart.
Baisden and Okolo were also fourth (wind-aided 23.01, +4.3 meters per second) and eighth (23.33w), respectively, in 200-meter final, an event the Longhorns had six entries.
Sategna is in his first season as head coach of the combined men and women's program after spending 10 seasons as an assistant coach for the men's team. The women were second at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships and now poised to compete for the title at next month's national outdoor meet in Eugene, Ore.
The women had a meet-best eight event titles at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships. Other UT winners included Morolake Akinosun (100 and 200 meters), Marielle Hall (1,500 meters), Danielle Dowie (400-meter hurdles), Shanay Briscoe (high jump) and Kaitlin Petrillose (pole vault).
Akinosun was the top women's scorer, producing 22.5 points with her three wins. Baiden tallied 15.5, the most among freshmen.
Okolo is the fourth Longhorn to claim top performer at the Big 12 Outdoor meet, joining Aleah Williams (2000), Sanya Richards (2003-04) and Marshevet Hooker (2005).
The Longhorns captured the outdoor freshman of the year award for the sixth time and second-straight year with Petrillose securing last season's honor. Other UT winners include Lakeesha White (1999), Aleah Williams (2000), Sanya Richards (2003) and Destinee Hooker (2006)
The Longhorns are off this weekend, but back in action next week for the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Fayetteville, Ark.
