Big 12 Announces Athlete of the Year Nominees
7/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Indoor Track
FORT WORTH -- TCU Track & Field's Ronnie Baker and Brianna McGhee have been named candidates for Big 12 Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Sunday.
Baker and McGhee both had impressive senior years to cap their careers as Horned Frogs, claiming four Big 12 medals between the two of them.
After claiming the Big 12 60-meter dash title during the indoor season, Baker went on to defend his national title as the 60 meter champion at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships. Baker crossed the finish line as the fastest man in the world at 6.47 seconds. His time is the fastest non-altitude mark in NCAA history, the fastest ever ran at the championship meet, and a TCU program record.
The Louisville, Ky. native kept his foot on the gas pedal heading into the outdoor season. In the home opener, Baker ran a wind-aided 100-meter dash time of 9.95 to take home first place in the event. His time led the NCAA throughout the outdoor season. At the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Fort Worth, Baker put on a show for the home crowd as he garnered his fourth Big 12 gold medal of his career with a first-place finish in the 100 meters.
Baker also helped the Horned Frogs take home sixth place at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a season-best time of 38.72.
For his accomplishments in 2016, Baker was named the Big 12 Outstanding Performer of the Year, the South Central Regional Athlete of the Year, and TCU's Pop Boone Athlete of the Year.
McGhee also found a great deal of success during her final year in Purple and White. The Omaha, Neb. native was crowned the Big 12 champion in the 100-meter hurdles after clocking in with a time of 13.14. In the prelims, McGhee logged a personal-best and school record time of 12.88 to set up her gold medal performance.
McGhee's time of 12.88 was ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and sixth in the NCAA heading into the NCAA championship meets.
McGhee earned a spot at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, garnering Second-Team All-America honors in the 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles. Overall, McGhee brought the school record down .16 seconds in the 60 hurdles and shaved off .36 seconds off of the school record in the 100 hurdles.
Fan voting for Big 12 Athlete of the Year will be open on July 21-24. Fan voting will be considered in the final tally for selecting this prestigious award.
Players Mentioned
