Track & Field Wins Six Awards at Annual Building Champions Awards
Apr 20, 2022 | Track and Field
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M men's and women's track & field teams combined to win six awards at the ninth annual Building Champions Awards presented by Opportune inside the Ford Hall of Champions on Monday.
Texas A&M athletics honored its student-athletes as awards were presented for various academic, service, leadership and athletic endeavors. Jaevin Reed highlighted the night winning the prestigious Distinguished Letterman's Award. Other winners include Athing Mu (Athlete of the Year), Patrick Johnson II (Breaking Barriers Award), Deshae Wise (Lohman Inspiration Award), Tierra Robinson-Jones and James Smith II (Nye Academic Award). The six award winners marked the most of all the teams in the athletics department.
The award is presented to a student-athlete once a year who displays extraordinary talents in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service. Reed is a six-time First Team All-American and has 14 marks on the Aggie all-time top 12 performer lists. During the 2021 outdoor season, Reed was a contributing member to the SEC and NCAA Championships 4x400m relay team that broke the collegiate record. Off the track, she has been a member of the Maroon Coats since 2020. Reed also participated in the Mays Business School Reynolds & Reynolds Sales Leadership Institute and placed fourth in the 2020 Texas A&M Collegiate Sales Competition. The senior is also a member of the Twelve which serves as the captains for the women's track & field team. Reed recently ran a season best time of 53.65 in the 400m at the Tom Jones Memorial which ranks as the 28th best in the NCAA West Region.
Athing Mu claimed the top athletic award winning the Athlete of the Year honor. Mu rewrote the record book in her lone season in the Maroon & White. As a freshman she set eight Texas A&M records and six collegiate records. She concluded her collegiate career as a three-time SEC Champion winning the indoor 800m, outdoor 400m and outdoor 4x400m, and a three-time NCAA Champion winning the indoor and outdoor 4x400m and the outdoor 400m. Mu continued to shine on the world's biggest stage winning two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 800m and 4x400m. She claimed the 800m medal with an American record time and became the first female American winner in 53 years. For her efforts during the 2021 season, she won The Bowerman, which is given to the top collegiate track & field athlete, and won the World Athletics Female Rising Star award, which is recognized to the world's top rising track & field athlete. Mu currently runs professionally for Nike and trains in College Station, while attending Texas A&M and working with the Aggies as an assistant volunteer coach.
The Breaking Barriers is new to the annual event and was created to celebrate student-athletes and their dedication to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and excellence. Johnson II serves as the B.L.U.E.print (Black Leaders who Undertake Excellence) Recruitment & Retention Officer as well as the SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee) Vice President of Student-Athlete Development. The DeSoto, Texas, native, is the Director of Traditions Night which is a student-athlete led initiative that introduces incoming student-athletes to different buildings and monuments, as well the Aggie traditions. Johnson is also a member the track & field captain group, the Twelve, and a member of the Maroon Coats. The senior has competed in three indoor meets and three outdoor meets this season. The DeSoto, Texas, native has clocked personal best in the 100m (10.81) and 200m (21.56).
The Lohman Inspiration Award recognizes a student-athlete at Texas A&M who has demonstrated integrity and tenacity in overcoming incredible challenges in pursuit of his or her education. This person makes a commitment to working with and learning from others, as well as being a good role model for others who struggle.
While growing up, Deshae Wise's mother, Rebecca, was essentially captured and thrust into the dark world of human trafficking. Often, Deshae didn't know where her mom was, while being cared for by those who cared little. Enduring the images of violence driven upon Rebecca, and never knowing for sure if survival was in their future. A child pressed on, with her mother.
She did attend school and the activities there served as a distraction. Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer. And she could run, Deshae had blazing speed. And after years in captivity, it was time to run.
When Rebecca's captor was making one final visit to family before serving a prison sentence, she grabbed her daughter and took off. She and Deshae ran far from the darkness, hoping to create a brighter future ahead. Their captor called and searched but it was to no avail - Rebecca and Deshae were finally free. Free to live a life far better than the one they left behind.
And Deshae still runs today, putting more and more distance between her and that childhood. That blazing speed that once served as a distraction, is at the forefront now as she is a hurdler for the Aggies. The obstacles on the track far simpler than the ones she's over come in life.
She persevered, showed strength, forged ahead and never gave up. She's an example that even in dark times, the light is out there to be found. And because if it all, she runs free.
Wise has made an immediate impact with the Aggie track & field team in her first season. The graduate student ranks No. 2 in the NCAA West Region in the 400m hurdles (56.19) and No. 5 in the nation, in the 100m hurdles she is the eighth fastest in the region at 13.05 and 16th fastest in the nation.
Robinson-Jones and Smith II each won the Nye Academic Award which is given to a male and female student-athlete that has demonstrated consistent dedication to their academics by utilizing resources, improving their academic performance, always giving their best effort and having the discipline needed to be successful in the classroom while upholding the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service.
Robinson-Jones is studying University Studies Leadership with a concentration in Sports Management and Health. The senior treats everyone with respect and serves as a positive role model for younger students who are working with the Learning Center staff. Being the dedicated and committed person that she is, she has not missed one academic appoints the entire year. She is a member of the 4x400m that is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation at 3:23.30 and individually she is the fourth fastest in the country in the open 400m at 50.89.
Smith II is studying University Studies Leadership with a concentration in Sports Management and Communications. The senior has shown consistent dedication and motivation when it comes to academics, encourages teammates and other student-athletes to be their best in the classroom. He exemplifies Aggie core values when working with the Center for Student-Athlete Services staff. Smith II is currently ranked as the fifth fastest in the 400m hurdles at 49.53.
For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@aggietfxc).
Texas A&M athletics honored its student-athletes as awards were presented for various academic, service, leadership and athletic endeavors. Jaevin Reed highlighted the night winning the prestigious Distinguished Letterman's Award. Other winners include Athing Mu (Athlete of the Year), Patrick Johnson II (Breaking Barriers Award), Deshae Wise (Lohman Inspiration Award), Tierra Robinson-Jones and James Smith II (Nye Academic Award). The six award winners marked the most of all the teams in the athletics department.
The award is presented to a student-athlete once a year who displays extraordinary talents in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service. Reed is a six-time First Team All-American and has 14 marks on the Aggie all-time top 12 performer lists. During the 2021 outdoor season, Reed was a contributing member to the SEC and NCAA Championships 4x400m relay team that broke the collegiate record. Off the track, she has been a member of the Maroon Coats since 2020. Reed also participated in the Mays Business School Reynolds & Reynolds Sales Leadership Institute and placed fourth in the 2020 Texas A&M Collegiate Sales Competition. The senior is also a member of the Twelve which serves as the captains for the women's track & field team. Reed recently ran a season best time of 53.65 in the 400m at the Tom Jones Memorial which ranks as the 28th best in the NCAA West Region.
Athing Mu claimed the top athletic award winning the Athlete of the Year honor. Mu rewrote the record book in her lone season in the Maroon & White. As a freshman she set eight Texas A&M records and six collegiate records. She concluded her collegiate career as a three-time SEC Champion winning the indoor 800m, outdoor 400m and outdoor 4x400m, and a three-time NCAA Champion winning the indoor and outdoor 4x400m and the outdoor 400m. Mu continued to shine on the world's biggest stage winning two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 800m and 4x400m. She claimed the 800m medal with an American record time and became the first female American winner in 53 years. For her efforts during the 2021 season, she won The Bowerman, which is given to the top collegiate track & field athlete, and won the World Athletics Female Rising Star award, which is recognized to the world's top rising track & field athlete. Mu currently runs professionally for Nike and trains in College Station, while attending Texas A&M and working with the Aggies as an assistant volunteer coach.
The Breaking Barriers is new to the annual event and was created to celebrate student-athletes and their dedication to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and excellence. Johnson II serves as the B.L.U.E.print (Black Leaders who Undertake Excellence) Recruitment & Retention Officer as well as the SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee) Vice President of Student-Athlete Development. The DeSoto, Texas, native, is the Director of Traditions Night which is a student-athlete led initiative that introduces incoming student-athletes to different buildings and monuments, as well the Aggie traditions. Johnson is also a member the track & field captain group, the Twelve, and a member of the Maroon Coats. The senior has competed in three indoor meets and three outdoor meets this season. The DeSoto, Texas, native has clocked personal best in the 100m (10.81) and 200m (21.56).
The Lohman Inspiration Award recognizes a student-athlete at Texas A&M who has demonstrated integrity and tenacity in overcoming incredible challenges in pursuit of his or her education. This person makes a commitment to working with and learning from others, as well as being a good role model for others who struggle.
While growing up, Deshae Wise's mother, Rebecca, was essentially captured and thrust into the dark world of human trafficking. Often, Deshae didn't know where her mom was, while being cared for by those who cared little. Enduring the images of violence driven upon Rebecca, and never knowing for sure if survival was in their future. A child pressed on, with her mother.
She did attend school and the activities there served as a distraction. Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer. And she could run, Deshae had blazing speed. And after years in captivity, it was time to run.
When Rebecca's captor was making one final visit to family before serving a prison sentence, she grabbed her daughter and took off. She and Deshae ran far from the darkness, hoping to create a brighter future ahead. Their captor called and searched but it was to no avail - Rebecca and Deshae were finally free. Free to live a life far better than the one they left behind.
And Deshae still runs today, putting more and more distance between her and that childhood. That blazing speed that once served as a distraction, is at the forefront now as she is a hurdler for the Aggies. The obstacles on the track far simpler than the ones she's over come in life.
She persevered, showed strength, forged ahead and never gave up. She's an example that even in dark times, the light is out there to be found. And because if it all, she runs free.
Wise has made an immediate impact with the Aggie track & field team in her first season. The graduate student ranks No. 2 in the NCAA West Region in the 400m hurdles (56.19) and No. 5 in the nation, in the 100m hurdles she is the eighth fastest in the region at 13.05 and 16th fastest in the nation.
Robinson-Jones and Smith II each won the Nye Academic Award which is given to a male and female student-athlete that has demonstrated consistent dedication to their academics by utilizing resources, improving their academic performance, always giving their best effort and having the discipline needed to be successful in the classroom while upholding the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service.
Robinson-Jones is studying University Studies Leadership with a concentration in Sports Management and Health. The senior treats everyone with respect and serves as a positive role model for younger students who are working with the Learning Center staff. Being the dedicated and committed person that she is, she has not missed one academic appoints the entire year. She is a member of the 4x400m that is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation at 3:23.30 and individually she is the fourth fastest in the country in the open 400m at 50.89.
Smith II is studying University Studies Leadership with a concentration in Sports Management and Communications. The senior has shown consistent dedication and motivation when it comes to academics, encourages teammates and other student-athletes to be their best in the classroom. He exemplifies Aggie core values when working with the Center for Student-Athlete Services staff. Smith II is currently ranked as the fifth fastest in the 400m hurdles at 49.53.
For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@aggietfxc).
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