Magness Earns Great Lakes Region Track Athlete of the Year
3/4/2021 12:08:00 PM | Track and Field
The Big Ten Champion also holds the school record in the 5000m.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior Jenna Magness was named USTFCCCA Great Lake Region Track Athlete of the Year on Thursday.
She is the first Spartan to win the honor since Leah O'Connor captured the title in 2015. O'Connor also was honored during the 2013 season. Tori Franklin and former Spartan thrower Beth Rohl earned the Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year award in 2013 and 2011, respectively.
Magness, a native of Grand Ledge, Michigan, shattered the Michigan State record in the women's 5000m, finishing first with a time of 15:42.73 at the SPIRE B1G Invitational on Feb. 12. The previous record was held by Emily MacLeod in 2011 with a time of 15:48.20. Magness' time is still the third-fastest in the NCAA this season.Â
She went on to earn her first Big Ten Indoor title last week, winning the 5000m. After finishing as a runner-up last season, Magness took control to capture the gold medal with a stellar time of 15:51.46. Two of her Spartan teammates were right behind as MSU finished 1-3-4.Â
Magness is also ranked fifth regionally in the 3000m at 9:20.65.
The junior will next be in action running the 5000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships hosted by the University of Arkansas, March 11-13 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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She is the first Spartan to win the honor since Leah O'Connor captured the title in 2015. O'Connor also was honored during the 2013 season. Tori Franklin and former Spartan thrower Beth Rohl earned the Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year award in 2013 and 2011, respectively.
Magness, a native of Grand Ledge, Michigan, shattered the Michigan State record in the women's 5000m, finishing first with a time of 15:42.73 at the SPIRE B1G Invitational on Feb. 12. The previous record was held by Emily MacLeod in 2011 with a time of 15:48.20. Magness' time is still the third-fastest in the NCAA this season.Â
She went on to earn her first Big Ten Indoor title last week, winning the 5000m. After finishing as a runner-up last season, Magness took control to capture the gold medal with a stellar time of 15:51.46. Two of her Spartan teammates were right behind as MSU finished 1-3-4.Â
Magness is also ranked fifth regionally in the 3000m at 9:20.65.
The junior will next be in action running the 5000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships hosted by the University of Arkansas, March 11-13 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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