Kirui, Reese Earn SEC Athlete of the Year Honors

OXFORD, Miss. A pair of Ole Miss track and field athletes picked up athlete of the year honors, the league office announced on Monday. Sophomore Barnabas Kirui was named the SEC Male Runner of the Year, while sophomore Brittney Reese was chosen as the SEC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. Both were chosen in a vote by the league’s coaches.

Kirui, who won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, sweep the distance races at the SEC Outdoor Championship, winning the 5,000 and 10,000 meter and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Kirui was award the Commissioner’s Trophy for his performance, as the conference meet’s highest point scorer. The 30 points Kirui won at the SEC championships is tied for the 4^th most ever.

It is the second SEC honor this season for Kirui, who was also chosen the SEC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year. Kirui is the second athlete in Ole Miss history to be named SEC athlete of the year, joining Pablo Sierra. Sierra also won the award twice as he was named the SEC Cross Country Runner of the Year in 1992 and the SEC Track Athlete of the Year in 1993.

Reese is the first Lady Rebel to ever win a SEC athlete of the year award. The SEC indoor and outdoor long jump champion was also honored as the NCAA Division I South Region's Women's Indoor Field Co-Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Reese finished second in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, picking up her second All-America honor of the Year. She also placed third in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

The SEC also announced the track and field/cross country Community Service Team for 2007. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to his community in superior service efforts. The Ole Miss honorees were senior Charles Bailey and sophomore Marlee Kevech.

Bailey, a D'Iberville, Miss. native, was the SEC outdoor long jump champion. He is involved in Reading with the Rebels program, as he reads to local elementary school students and stresses the importance of literacy. He also speaks to local high school students on the importance of education and staying in school. Bailey participated in Ole Miss' National Student-Athlete Day Community Service activity where 230 fourth-graders were invited to campus to learn about sports and meet student-athletes.

Kevech, a Washington, Penn. native, is involved in Reading with the Rebels program, where she reads to local elementary school students and stresses the importance of literacy. She also speaks to local high school students on the importance of education and staying in school. Kevech participated in Ole Miss' National Student-Athlete Day Community Service activity where 230 fourth-graders were invited to campus to learn about sports and meet student-athletes.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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