Houston Named BSC Female Track Athlete of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After earning a trip to the NCAA National meet in Des Moines, Iowa, CSU sprinter Gabrielle Houston has been named the 2011-12 Big South Conference Women’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year.  The honor was announced by the league in Charlotte on Friday.

The award is given annually to a male and female athlete and is voted upon by the head coaches at their annual league meetings. 

Houston highlighted her 2012 season with honorable mention All-America accolades as she finished 18th in the country with a time of 23.68 in the 200-meter event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  She earned six All-Conference plaudits during the 2011-12 season, including a pair of gold medals at the 2012 Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships.  At the meet, she tied the Big South meet record as she won the 200-meter championship with a time of 24.14.  Her second first-place finish of the meet came in the 4x400-meter relay as she anchored her team to a time of 3:51.97.  Houston closed the meet out with a second-place finish in the 60 meters with a time of 7.49. 

During the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championship, Houston placed second in the 100-meter event with a time of 11.80 and followed with a second-place time in the 200 meters at 24.13.  She helped her squad place third overall in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 46.13.  She closed out the season with top time in the 100 meters with a time of 11.45 and the No. 1 time in the indoor 200 meters as she turned in a time of 23.42.  She also owns the top indoor time this season in the 60-meter event with a time of 7.46, while her time of 24.14 in the indoor 200 was good for second-place.

“I’m so proud of Gabby and feel she’s so deserving of this honor,” said CSU head coach Tosha Ansley.  “For her have to take a season off and come back to earn a trip to nationals is nothing short of incredible.  It’s a true testament to her hard work and perseverance.  I’m so grateful to have her for one more season as a leader on my team.”

Men’s sprinter Javon Young earned honorable mention for the 2011-12 season.