May 19, 2006

DALLAS - The Big 12 Conference has announced its Outdoor Track & Field postseason honors, as selected by the league's head coaches. Honors include Men's and Women's Performer of the Year, Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year.

Bubba Thorton (Texas) was named Men's Head Coach of the Year for the fourth time (1997, `99, `03), while Texas' Beverly Kearney earned her sixth Women's Head Coach of the Year accolade (1997, `98, `99, `03, `04). The Longhorns' Brian Robison and Oklahoma State's Mary Davies were chosen as Men's and Women's Outdoor Performers of the Year for the first time, while Men's and Women's Outdoor Freshman Performer of the Year honors went to sprinter Jamaal Charles (UT) for the men and teammate Destinee Hooker (high jump) for the women.

Thorton, in his 10th season as Texas' head coach, led the men's team to its fourth Big 12 title and first since 2003. The Keller, Texas native has produced 30 outdoor All-Americans and led the Longhorns to two top 10 NCAA outdoor finishes.

Kearney, a Bradenton, Fla. native in her 13th season with the Longhorns led the team to their sixth Big 12 team title in nine years. Under Kearney's direction, UT has captured three NCAA Outdoor National Championships (1998, `99, `05)

Robison, a senior from Splendora, Texas, was the individual high point award winner for the men at the Big 12 Championships, compiling 20 points. He also earned conference titles in the shot put and discuss. Robison exceeded his personal best by almost four feet to win his second shot put title (2005). His mark of 68-3.25 broke Oskar Jakobsson's school record of 67-7.50, which was set at the 1982 NCAA Championships.

Davies earned Women's Performer of the Year after winning conference titles in the 10,000-meter, 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meter run. The junior became the first athlete in the history of the conference to claim victories in the three long distance events at the championships.

Charles was named as the Men's Outdoor Freshman Performer of the Year after his effort at the conference championships. The newcomer clocked a time of 10.23 to win the title in the 100-meters. It was Texas' third victory in the 100 meters at the Big 12 Championships and its first win since 2000. Charles was also the top qualifier in the 200 meters but with the conference title in hand, he decided to scratch.

The Women's Freshman Performer of the Year honor was awarded to UT's Destinee Hooker after she won her first Big 12 high jump title with a new outdoor best 6-2.25 feet.

Men's Outdoor Performer of the Year - Brian Robison, Texas

Women's Outdoor Performer of the Year - Mary Davies, Oklahoma State

Men's Freshman Performer of the Year - Jamaal Charles, Texas

Women's Freshman Performer of the Year - Destinee Hooker, Texas

Men's Coach of the Year - Bubba Thorton, Texas

Women's Coach of the Year - Beverly Kearney, Texas