NEW ORLEANS -- Trine's Jeffery Barnett was named the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Barnett (Fremont, Ohio / Fremont-Ross) is the first Thunder men's track and field performer to earn the honor. The sophomore notched the second-best long jump in the nation at 7.61 meters (24 feet, 11.75) inches to set a school record in the Don and Riley Zimmer Indoor Classic. The jump is the seventh-best indoor jump in the history of Division III track and field. Barnett's jump ranked No. 2 in the nation. He was the lone Trine performer to earn All-Region honors.
The honor adds to Barnett's growing list of accolades this season. He was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Field Athlete for his performance in the conference's championship meet. He also earned All-MIAA honors. Barnett was named the USTFCCCA Men's Field Athlete of the Week for his school-record performance in the long jump.
The USTFCCCA Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following a nomination period. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Barnett will compete for a national title in the long jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships this Friday in Naperville, Ill. Barnett is ranked second in the nation in the event, just one centimeter behind the nation's leader. The men's long jump national championship will be held Friday, Mar. 10 at 3 p.m.
The performance list of the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships can be found HERE. Information on the competition site at North Central College can be found HERE.