Tara Davis named USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week
AUSTIN, Texas — After a standout performance at the Texas Invitational at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Texas sprinter and jumper Tara Davis was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) National Athlete of the Week Tuesday.
It marked the second time this season that Davis has earned the honor, making her the first Longhorn to be named Athlete of the Week twice during in the same outdoor season.
Davis won the long jump, leaping 6.97 meters (22 feet, 10-1/2 inches). It was the second-longest jump of her career and the second time this spring that she has approached the 23-foot mark (she also jumped 22-9 March 12 at the NCAA Championships). The mark also tied former UCLA standout Jackie Joyner-Kersee for second-best all-time in NCAA history. Davis also holds the NCAA's top mark, after she jumped 23 feet, 5-1/4 inches March 15 at the Texas Relays.
In the 100-meter hurdles, Davis finished first among collegiate runners and second overall in 12.75 seconds, climbing to ninth this year on the world leaderboard in wind-legal times. She also now ranks fourth in program history in the event and has the second-fastest time in the nation this year, just .02 behind UCF's Rayniah Jones.
The Texas women are currently ranked No. 4 in the nation by the USTFCCCA, featuring 26 NCAA Regional-qualifying marks. The Longhorn men are No. 8 in the country.
Texas will run May 8 at the Aggie Invitational in College Station before the Big 12 Championships begin May 14.
