NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday afternoon that Tennessee graduate student Dylan Jacobs has been named the South Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2022-23 indoor season.
Â
The South Region includes all Division I programs from the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. Each of the nine regions — which are the same as those used during the cross country season — honored the top men’s and women’s track athletes, field athletes, head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.
Â
Jacobs, who hails from Orland Park, Illinois, turned in historic marks three times this season. The first came at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic when he went 13:11.01 over 5,000 meters to become the third-fastest athlete in collegiate history. Two weeks later, he narrowly missed the collegiate record in the 3,000 meters by 0.47 seconds when he stopped the clock at 7:36.89.
Â
Ultimately, Jacobs won the 5,000-meter title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 13:37.59, which was the fastest time ever recorded by a collegian indoors at altitude. He later finished sixth in the 3,000-meter at NCAAs in 7:52.25.
Â
With his win in the 5k, Jacobs claimed Tennessee’s 120th individual national championship in school history and 57th indoors. He became the first Vol to top the NCAA podium in a distance event since Olympian Jose Parrilla won the outdoor 800m title in 1994.
Â
At the 2023 SEC Indoor Championships, Jacobs had a hand in two event titles for the Big Orange—winning the 3k in 7:52.49 and anchoring the Tennessee distance medley relay to gold with a 3:56.46 split over 1,600 meters to bring home the victory.
Â
During the 2022-23 academic year, Jacobs has collected three All-America honors, two South Region Athlete of the Year awards in cross country and indoor track, one national title and two SEC championships. He was one of 10 NCAA Division I athletes named to the men’s watch list for The Bowerman award on March 2.
Â
The South Region includes all Division I programs from the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. Each of the nine regions — which are the same as those used during the cross country season — honored the top men’s and women’s track athletes, field athletes, head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.
Â
Jacobs, who hails from Orland Park, Illinois, turned in historic marks three times this season. The first came at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic when he went 13:11.01 over 5,000 meters to become the third-fastest athlete in collegiate history. Two weeks later, he narrowly missed the collegiate record in the 3,000 meters by 0.47 seconds when he stopped the clock at 7:36.89.
Â
Ultimately, Jacobs won the 5,000-meter title at the 2023 NCAA DI Indoor Championships in 13:37.59, which was the fastest time ever recorded by a collegian indoors at altitude. He later finished sixth in the 3,000-meter at NCAAs in 7:52.25.
Â
With his win in the 5k, Jacobs claimed Tennessee’s 120th individual national championship in school history and 57th indoors. He became the first Vol to top the NCAA podium in a distance event since Olympian Jose Parrilla won the outdoor 800m title in 1994.
Â
At the 2023 SEC Indoor Championships, Jacobs had a hand in two event titles for the Big Orange—winning the 3k in 7:52.49 and anchoring the Tennessee distance medley relay to gold with a 3:56.46 split over 1,600 meters to bring home the victory.
Â
During the 2022-23 academic year, Jacobs has collected three All-America honors, two South Region Athlete of the Year awards in cross country and indoor track, one national title and two SEC championships. He was one of 10 NCAA Division I athletes named to the men’s watch list for The Bowerman award on March 2.
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at University of Tennessee Athletics…