Irwin earns USTFCCCA regional honor

DES MOINES, Iowa - In recognition of his standout 2012 season, Andrew Irwin was voted the USTFCCCA South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year, as announced Monday when the organization released its regional awards for the outdoor season. It is the first such honor for the Razorback freshman who is now eligible for national selection. The USTFCCCA awards are voted on by the nation's coaches.

Irwin was the Southeastern Conference champion in the pole vault. He leads the NCAA with an American junior-record clearance of 5.72m/18-9.25, nearly seven inches higher than the second-ranked collegiate performer this year. With that performance, he improved upon his own school record and hit the Olympic Games 'A' standard. Irwin completed a sweep of the SEC indoor and outdoor titles in the pole vault.

The Mount Ida, Ark., is currently tied for the top jump by an American this year and tied for the third-best mark in the world with his performance at the SEC Championships. This latest honor adds to the list of accolades for the Irwin during the outdoor season that includes being voted the SEC Field Athlete and Freshman Field Athlete of the Year, receiving First Team and All-Freshman conference honors, twice being named SEC Field Athlete of the Week and once earning SEC Freshman Athlete of the Week.

During the indoor season, Irwin was the NCAA champion, SEC champion and SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year. He set both the indoor (5.55m/18-2.5) and outdoor school records during his freshman campaign. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.