IRVING, Texas – Jane Hedengren was awarded the Big 12 Women’s Outstanding Freshman of the Year honor, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
Hedengren earned the award after she shattered outdoor NCAA records in both the 5000-meter and the 10,000m. The true freshman clocked a 14:50.50 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, defeating the rest of the competition, eight of whom were professionals, by more than eight seconds in her outdoor 5000m debut. She dethroned Florida’s Parker Valby’s previous record by more than one second.
In her first-ever attempt at the 10,000m and first outdoor race of her collegiate career at the Stanford Invitational, Hedengren ran a 30:46.80 to win by more than three seconds. As she set an NCAA record in the process, she took down Valby’s previous mark by almost four seconds. It ranks as World No. 1 and is the seventh-fastest time ever by an American.
The Provo, Utah product won the 5000m at the Big 12 Championships, crossing in 15:26.94, nearly 25 seconds ahead of the rest of the competition. She also finished runner-up in the 1500m with a 4:10.24.
Hedengren also won the indoor track & field Big 12 Women’s Outstanding Freshman of the Year award. She is set to compete in the NCAA West Preliminary Round on May 27-30.
To view the full release, visit the Big 12 website.