May 19, 2006
UT-Arlington's Jared Connaughton has been picked by the league's head coaches the 2006 Southland Conference Athlete of the Year for men's track after helping the Mavs to a third-place showing at the outdoor championship. After leading her team to its second consecutive outdoor championship, Quantinette Fields of Sam Houston State has been named the women's athlete of the year.
Connaughton, who was named the top athlete for the indoor season after scoring a meet-high 18 points in February, finished third among individuals with 23 points outdoors. The junior sprinter won the 100 by .006 over Northwestern State's Ravyn Hayward with a time of 10.321. The Canadian later won the 200 over Hayward by four one-hundredths with a mark of 20.90. His other two points came when he ran the anchor leg of the 4x100 team that finished second in 40.27. Connaughton was also voted the SLC Outstanding Track Performer for his efforts.
Connaughton will participate in the 100, 200 and the 4x100-meter relay at next week's NCAA regionals in Austin, Texas.
Fields, a senior from Yemassee, S.C., scored 24 points for the Bearkats as they cruised to a 29-point (164-135) cushion over second-place Texas State. Fields won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.55 and took first in the 200 with a 23.59. Fields also ran on the 4x100 and 4x400-relay teams that each finished second with times of 45.68 and 3:43.14, respectively.
2006 Southland Conference Outdoor Track and Field Honors
MEN
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Jared Connaughton, Texas-Arlington
OUTSTANDING FIELD PERFORMER:
Reggie Lazenby, Stephen F. Austin
OUTSTANDING TRACK PERFORMER
Jared Connaughton, Texas-Arlington
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Curtis Collier, Sam Houston State
HIGH POINT SCORER:
Brandon Moseley, Sam Houston State, 24 points
WOMEN
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Quantinette Fields, Sam Houston State
OUTSTANDING FIELD PERFORMER:
Sarah Stultz, Texas State
OUTSTANDING TRACK PERFORMER:
Ashley Monteau, Stephen F. Austin
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Curtis Collier, Sam Houston State
HIGH POINT SCORER:
Camilla Davis, Texas State, 24.25 points
