IRVING, Texas – Tayvon Kitchen was tabbed as the Big 12 men’s track and field outstanding freshman of the year the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
The true freshman earned the award after setting the all-time fastest indoor 3000-meter time by a true freshman in the NCAA at the David Hemery Valentine Invite in February, coming in at 7:36.23. That record also sets him at No. 9 all-time in the NCAA and made him the BYU school record holder in the event.
The Central Point, Oregon product also set the No. 2 all-time BYU record in the 5000m in late January at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic crossing the line in 13:19.17. The freshman finished third overall in his first ever appearance in the event.
Kitchen was also named Big 12 men’s track and field co-athlete of the week in late February and went on to finish second in the 3000m at the Big 12 Championships finishing in 7:52.91.
Kitchen will compete in the 3000m and 5000m at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships on March 13-14.
View the full release on the Big 12 Website.