Lincoln- The Big Ten Conference announced its 2013 indoor track and individual award winners on Wednesday morning. Nebraska senior Mara Griva was named the Female Field Athlete of the Championships as voted on by the league's coaches.
Griva was honored after earning the long and triple jump titles at the 2013 Big Ten Indoor Championships last weekend. She finished first in the long jump with a season-best leap of 20-9 (6.32) and took first in the triple jump with a season-best mark of 42-11 ½ (13.09). Griva ranks 11th in the nation in the long jump and is eighth in the triple jump. Her efforts over the weekend helped the women to a second-place finish in the team standings, just three points behind Illinois.
The Big Ten Conference also recognized Griva and Janis Leitis as Nebraska's Sportsmanship Award recipients. The student-athletes chosen for the award are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
Men's Awards
Track Athlete of the Year
Casimir Loxsom, Penn State
Field Athlete of the Year
Derek Drouin, Indiana
Freshman of the Year
Brannon Kidder, Penn State
Track Athlete of the Championships
Casimir Loxsom, Penn State
Field Athlete of the Championships
Derek Drouin, Indiana
Coach of the Year
Ed Nuttycombe, Wisconsin
Women's Awards
Track Athlete of the Year
Ashley Spencer, Illinois
Field Athlete of the Year
Beth Rohl, Michigan State
Freshman of the Year
Morolake Akinosun, Illinois
Track Athlete of the Championships
Ashley Spencer, Illinois
Field Athlete of the Championships
Mara Griva, Nebraska
Coach of the Year
Tonja Buford-Bailey, Illinois
