June 14, 2012

TUCSON - The University of Arizona Wildcat men's track and field team earned another award for the 2012 track and field season. Junior Nick Ross was named Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Year, it was announced on Thursday. Ross becomes the first Wildcat to earn the field athlete honor since the award was instated in 2005.

Ross, from Murrieta, Calif., earned All-Pac 12 honors in the high, long, and triple jumps this season while claiming the league high jump title for the second-straight year. Ross posted a personal-best mark of 7-5 (2.26m) in the high jump at the Tucson Elite Classic, which ties for the No. 3 mark in school history. He also posted personal-best marks of 25-4.5 (7.73m) in the long jump at Pac-12 Championships and 52-0.5 (15.86m) in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships Preliminary Round.

At the NCAA Championships, Ross earned a fourth-place finish in the men's high jump competition with a clearance of 7-4.25 (2.24m). Ross earned his third-straight first-team All-America honor in the high jump. In the men's triple jump, Ross earned second-team All-America honors with a jump of 51-1.5 (15.58m), good for 15th place.

Ross will compete in the high jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. The competition starts on June 22 and ends on July 1st. Ross will need to jump 7-5.75 (2.28m) and finish in third place or better to make Team USA for the Olympic Games.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year went to Chris Derrick (Stanford). Men's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year was awarded to Jonathan Cabral (Oregon). Men's Coach of the Year was given to Vin Lananna (Oregon). Women's Track Athlete of the Year was presented to English Gardner (Oregon). Women's Field Athlete of the Year was given to Brianne Theisen (Oregon). Women's Freshman/Newcomer of the Year was awarded to Shelby Houlihan (Arizona State). Women's Coach of the Year was also presented to Vin Lananna (Oregon).