May 26, 2000
Missouri's Christian Cantwell was named the Big 12 men's track and field Freshman of the Year on Friday afternoon by the Big 12 coaches. The freshman from Eldon, Mo. helped lead the Tigers to a fourth place finish at the 2000 outdoor conference championships last weekend in Columbia.
Cantwell won the shot put at the league championships with a Big 12 Conference meet record throw of 64 feet, 6 ? inches. Not only did that throw give him the conference title, it also automatically qualified the freshman for the NCAA Championships in Durham, N.C. next week (May 31-June 3) as well as the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif., July 14-23.
Cantwell was tabbed co-Freshman of the Year following the 2000 indoor season. He shared the honor with Colorado's Jorge Torres. During the outdoor campaign, Cantwell claimed top honors in the shot put on six different occasions, including the Big 12 meet. His throw of 64-6 ? was a MU school record by over three feet as he broke Rick Lyle's mark of 61-6 ? from 1993.
Nebraka's head coach, Gary Pepin, swept the coaches honors as he was named both the men's and women's Coach of the Year following his team's sweep of both team crowns. Pepin was also named the women's Big 12 Coach of the Year following the 2000 indoor season.
Bashir Ramzy from Texas A&M and Aleah Williams of Texas were selected as Performers of the Year while William was also namedthe Women's Freshman of the Year.
WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR: Gary Pepin, NebraskaWOMEN'S PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Aleah Williams, Texas
WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Aleah Williams, Texas
MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR: Gary Pepin, Nebraska
MEN'S PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Bashir Ramzy, Texas A&M
MEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Christian Cantwell, Missouri