May 5, 2009
IRVING - A school record for Julian Reid in the triple jump, while leading a 1-2-3 sweep for Texas A&M at the Texas Invite this past weekend earned the sophomore Big 12 Athlete of the Week honors.
A leap of 54-10.25 (16.72) broke a 14-year-old Aggie record of 54-6.75 (16.63) set by Kendrick Smith at the Southwest Conference meet in 1995. Four of Reid's six marks at Myers Stadium would have claimed the win. His second best effort was a windy 54-7.25 (16.64).
With a legal wind reading of 1.5 mps on his winning mark Reid becomes the current collegiate outdoor leader in the event heading into the Big 12 Championships (May 15-17). Oklahoma's Will Claye sports a wind-aided best of 55-0.75 (16.78) with a legal mark of 54-9.5 (16.70). Reid's mark is also currently 11th on the 2009 world list.
Reid is the defending Big 12 Outdoor long jump champion and he was runner-up in the triple jump a year ago. Texas A&M will travel to Lubbock next week for the conference championships.
Reid becomes the second Aggie male athlete and fourth A&M performer to earn the honor during the 2009 outdoor season. Previous honors were awarded to Chris Dykes (March 24), Porscha Lucas (March 31), and Gabby Mayo (April 7).
Colorado's Jenny Barringer received the women's Big 12 Athlete of the Week honor for the second consecutive week after breaking the collegiate record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:07.64. It is her fifth NCAA record in less than a year.