Montgomery Named SEC Freshman Runner of the Year
6/1/2016 1:59:00 PM | Track & Field
The school record holder is one of the top 400m athletes in the world
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Kahmari Montgomery continues to add to his already-impressive resume this week, as he was named the SEC Freshman Runner of the Year on Wednesday (June 1). Montgomery was one of 14 student-athletes and coaches recognized by the conference office for their outstanding efforts throughout the outdoor season.
Montgomery's historic freshman year began during the indoor season with his first of two SEC titles in the 400m dash, breaking his own school record in the event with a 45.78 finish. That time, along with his 46.08 during the SEC preliminary heats, put him within the top 15 in the world for the indoor 400m, a position he would find himself back in during the outdoor season. He closed his indoor campaign with an NCAA appearance, finishing 11th.
Montgomery's outdoor season may have began relatively quiet, but its end has brought him back into the national headlines as one of the top young 400m dash athletes in the world. His school record performance in the 400m dash (45.13) put him back at the top of the podium at the SEC Championships, and was enough for yet another top 15 world ranking. He entered the NCAA West Preliminary Round ranked No. 2 in the NCAA for the event, and would also take to the track for the 200m dash and as a member of the Tigers' 4x100m team. There, Montgomery breezed to an NCAA qualification in the 400m dash, placing third in the preliminary field. That was the first meet during the outdoor season in which he did not place first in the 400m.
Montgomery is one of seven Tiger men to advance into the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 8-11.
2016 SEC OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD AWARDS
Men's Runner of the Year - Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, LSU
Men's Field Athlete of the Year - Lindon Victor, Texas A&M
Men's Freshman Runner of the Year - Kahmari Montgomery, Missouri
Men's Freshman Field Athletes of the Year - Anders Eriksson, Florida // Daniel Haugh, Alabama
Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Jarrion Lawson, Arkansas
Men's Coach of the Year - Chris Bucknam, Arkansas
Women's Runners of the Year - Felicia Brown, Tennessee // Dominique Scott-Efurd, Arkansas
Women's Field Athlete of the Year - Keturah Orji, Georgia
Women's Freshman Runner of the Year - Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Kentucky
Women's Freshman Field Athlete of the Year - Lexi Weeks, Arkansas
Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Keturah Orji, Georgia
Women's Coach of the Year - Lance Harter, Arkansas
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