Texas Tech’s Charles Brown and Texas’ Ariel Jones are the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week thanks to impressive performances on the field and on the track. Brown competed in three events this past week, including the long jump where he took first place, and Jones grabbed a victory in the 400m hurdles. It marks the first weekly honor for Jones, who is a 2016 NCAA Champion in the 4x400 Indoor Relay, a 2015 USTFCCCA Second Team All-American in the 400m hurdles and the 2015 Big 12 Champion in the 400m hurdles. Brown, a freshman, also grabs his first weekly award.

BIG 12 TRACK & FIELD MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Charles Brown, Texas Tech, Jumps, Fr., Wichita Falls, Texas
Brown racked up an impressive outdoor performance at the Texas Tech Open. The freshman from Wichita Falls notched a first-place finish in the men’s long jump, leaping 7.83m/25-8.25 to capture the win. The distance is first in the Big 12 and he currently sits fifth in the country through two weeks of competition. It also was the ninth-best mark in school history, making him the first Red Raider since 2014 to break into the school’s top 10 list in the long jump. He also picked up a second-place finish in the triple jump after hitting a distance of 14.83m/48-8, which puts him at No. 2 in the conference this season and would qualify him for the NCAA West Regional if the season were to end now. Brown wasn’t done there, as his busy day would also include a fourth-place mark in the high jump, clearing 2.06m/6-9.

BIG 12 TRACK & FIELD FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Ariel Jones, Texas, 400m Hurdles, So., Houston, Texas
Following an All-American performance on the track indoors in the 4x400 relay, hurdler Ariel Jones made her outdoor debut with a nation-leading time in the 400-meter hurdles. The sophomore from Houston, Texas clocked in at 56.55 seconds to post a personal best and rank No. 10 in UT history while winning the Cardinal & Gold Challenge in Los Angeles, California. She bested All-Americans Claudia Francis of Florida and USC’s Amalie Luel on her way to the victory.

2016 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week