Will Claye Named National Field Athlete of the Year
Friday, June 17, 2011 | Track and Field
Junior Florida jumper Will Claye (Phoenix, Ariz.) has been named the National Men's Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as voted on by the nation's coaches, the New Orleans-based organization announced Thursday.
Claye, who joined the Gators prior to the 2010-11 season after transferring from Oklahoma, has had a remarkable first season in Gainesville. Among wind-legal marks, Claye ranks fourth in the world in the men's long jump (8.29m/27-2.50) and is fifth in the men's triple jump (17.35m/56-11.25).
Claye, who won the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championship in the triple jump, placed second in the event outdoors, next to teammate Christian Taylor. Claye also was third nationally in the long jump outdoors this season with a leap of 8.20m/26-11.
Claye turned in one of the best men's triple jump performances in collegiate history, regardless of conditions. He executed four jumps better than 56 feet and two wind-aided leaps of better than 57 feet in an epic back-and-forth battle with Taylor.
Claye won Southeastern Conference Championships in both the men's triple jump and long jump outdoors, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat since Leevan Sands of Auburn in 2004. He did so with a long jump mark of 8.29m/27-2.50 and a wind-aided triple jump mark of 17.24m/56-6.75.
For his efforts, Claye also has been named the SEC Outdoor Men's Field Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year.
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Past Winners:
2011: Will Claye, Florida2010: Ashton Eaton, Oregon / Ryan Whiting, Arizona State
2009: Ashton Eaton, Oregon
2008: Cory Martin, Auburn
2007: Jake Arnold, Arizona
2006: Garrett Johnson, Florida State / Jesse Williams, Southern California
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