IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the 2021 American Outdoor Track & Field Most Outstanding Performance awards, as student-athletes from Houston, East Carolina and Memphis collected honors following the American Outdoor Track & Field Championships meet.
The awards are presented to student-athletes who recorded the highest-ranking marks on the NCAA performance list during the American Outdoor Track & Field Championships this season. Houston freshman Shaun Maswanganyi, East Carolina graduate student Ryan Davis, Houston graduate student Brianne Bethel, East Carolina junior Sommer Knight and Memphis graduate student Mona Jaidi were each recognized for the meet’s top performances.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Shaun Maswanganyi * Houston * Freshman * 100-Meter Dash and 200-Meter Dash
Maswanganyi dominated the sprint events in his first career American Outdoor Track & Field Championship, taking the gold medal in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Maswanganyi’s 100 dash time of 9.87 ranked second nationally and his 200 dash showing of 19.93 also ranked second in the NCAA entering regional competition.
MEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Ryan Davis * East Carolina * Graduate Student * Hammer Throw
Davis earned a pair of gold medals in his final American outdoor meet, shining especially in the hammer throw. Davis’ winning hammer attempt of 70.77m (232-2.0) was the 10th-best mark in the NCAA on the eve of regional meets.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Brianne Bethel * Houston * Graduate Student * 200-Meter Dash
Bethel was a double-winner individually in her final American outdoor championship, setting a meet record in the 200-meter dash on her way to victory. Bethel’s championship and meet record time of 22.54 was the fourth-fastest in the country at the beginning of regional championship week.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Sommer Knight * East Carolina * Junior * Pole Vault
Knight captured her first career event win at the American Outdoor Championships as the top finisher in the pole vault. Knight cleared 4.28m (14-0.5) to rank 13th among all competitors in the country.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR FIELD MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Mona Jaidi * Memphis * Graduate Student * Javelin
Jaidi earned the win in the javelin at the conference outdoor meet for the first time in her career at the American Outdoor Championships. Jaidi’s 54.63m (179-3.0) winning throw was 13th in the NCAA entering regional championship week.