Jones Named National Athlete of The Year Finalist

NEW ORLEANS – The honors keep rolling in for Colorado track and field senior Dani Jones after the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named her one of three finalists for the USTFCCCA National Women's Track Athlete of the Year Friday morning.

"Although I'm saddened by the abrupt end to the season, I'm honored to be named one of the three finalists for national athlete of the year," said Jones. "I'm especially thankful for the University of Colorado, my coaches, family and friends for their continued support."

Jones was the heavy favorite for the mile national title before all championships were canceled. She led the field by three seconds entering the meet after running the sixth-fastest time in NCAA history at the Wanamaker Mile in the 113^th Millrose Games. On top of that, she also had the ninth-best time in the 5,000 after running with Makena Morley in Boston, as the duo ran virtually alone for the last few laps. Jones is the only female athlete in NCAA history in the top-10 in both the mile and 5,000.

In addition to her top-10 achievements, Jones was also ranked third in the 5,000 and fifth in the 800 in the nation. The senior was planning to attempt the mile/800 double where she would've been slated against another National Athlete of the Year Finalist in Nia Akins of Penn.

Jones became the third CU student-athlete named USTFCCA Regional Athlete of the Year during the indoor season earlier this month, joining Jenny Barringer in 2009 and Emma Coburn in 2013. The honor was just the eighth regional track athlete of the year for the squad all-time.

Jones was named the USTFCCCA Cross Country Athlete of the Year following her 2018 National Championship. She also became the fifth CU student-athlete with a USTFCCCA Regional and National Athlete of the Year honor, joining Barringer, Dathan Ritzenhein, Jorge Torres and Adam Goucher. She would be the only CU athlete to ever capture a cross country and track honor.

The other two finalists include Akins of Penn who was the national leader in the 800 after running the second-fastest time in NCAA history in February. They are joined by LSU's Tonia Marshall who had the nation's best time in the 60 hurdles after running the fifth-fastest 60 hurdles time ever, becoming the third-best performer in NCAA history. She also had the 11^th and 12^th fastest marks in NCAA history this season.

The men's national track athlete of the year finalists are Trey Cunningham (Florida State), Tyler Day (Northern Arizona) and Randolph Ross (North Carolina A&T), while the field athlete of the year finalists include Gleb Dedarev (Kansas), Carey McLeod (Tennessee) and Chris Nilsen (South Dakota). The women's field athlete of the year finalists are Tyra Gittens (Texas A&M), Olivia Gruver (Washington) and Jasmine Moore (Georgia).

Each of the athletes and coaches were among the top-3 vote getters in their respective category when the first round of voting by USTFCCCA member coaches was conducted from Wednesday afternoon into early Friday morning.

There will be a final vote by member coaches beginning Monday morning and those winners will be named National Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2020 indoor season.

National Men's Track Athlete of the Year – Finalists
Trey Cunningham, Florida State
Tyler Day, Northern Arizona
Randolph Ross, North Carolina A&T

National Men's Field Athlete of the Year – Finalists
Gleb Dudarev, Kansas
Carey McLeod, Tennessee
Chris Nilsen, South Dakota

National Men's Coach of the Year – Finalists
Ron Helmer, Indiana
Dennis Shaver, LSU
Michael Smith, Northern Arizona

National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year – Finalists
Travis Geopfert, Tennessee
Todd Lane, LSU
Ben Thomas, Oregon

National Women's Track Athlete of the Year – Finalists
Nia Akins, Penn
Dani Jones, Colorado
Tonea Marshall, LSU

National Women's Field Athlete of the Year – Finalists
Tyra Gittens, Texas A&M
Olivia Gruver, Washington
Jasmine Moore, Georgia

National Women's Coach of the Year – Finalists
Lance Harter, Arkansas
Dennis Shaver, LSU
Caryl Smith Gilbert, Southern California

National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year – Finalists
Sean Brady, Texas A&M
Tim Hall, Kentucky
Justin St. Clair, North Dakota State

Colorado University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Dani Jones

Makena Morley

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