Jane Hedengren was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for her indoor season performance, according to a March 23 announcement by the organization.
Hedengren’s recognition follows an impressive season in which she won two national titles at the NCAA National Championships, taking first place in both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter events. She set a championship record with a time of 15:00.12 in the 5000 meters, finishing ahead of defending champion Doris Lemngole from Alabama, and completed the 3000 meters in 8:36.31, more than seven seconds ahead of her competitors.
During her freshman year, Hedengren set an NCAA record in the indoor 5000 meters on December 6, clocking a time of 14:44.79 during her first collegiate race. She also recorded the second-fastest indoor collegiate time ever for the 3000 meters at the Millrose Games with an effort of 8:34.98 and ran what is now considered one of history’s fastest collegiate miles at 4:22.22.
At this year’s Big 12 Championships, Hedengren secured victory in the 3000 meters and placed second in the mile event, contributing significantly to Brigham Young University’s team runner-up finish by scoring eighteen points.
This award marks a milestone as it is reportedly “the first time a BYU athlete has received the USTFCCCA national honor for track & field.” The selection process involved votes from USTFCCCA member coaches after this year’s NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships held at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas; performances from both regular season and championship events were considered for eligibility.
