Rice's Colwick Named Conference USA Athlete of the Year

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 1, 2009) Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky made the announcement today of the 2008-2009 C-USA Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Rice pole vaulter Jason Colwick was the recipient of the Male Athlete of the Year, while East Carolina softball pitcher Toni Paisley and Tulane volleyball player Sara Radosevic were selected as the Female Co-Athletes of the Year.

Colwick became the first Conference USA track and field athlete to win national titles in the pole vault at the both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Jon Warren, Rice's head men's track and field coach was quoted saying "Just looking at the athletes at Rice with the (Jarett) Dillard and (James) Casey, and Chase Clement in football and with Anthony Rendon in baseball and what they accomplished it is very impressive for Jason to receive this award especially with the strength of this conference.'

"I am a firm believer that anyone can achieve what they want, athletically or not, if they believe and work hard. To win this award is awesome,' Colwick stated when he was notified of the award.

The San Marcos, Texas, native placed sixth at the USA National Outdoor Track & Field Championships when he cleared 18 feet 6.5 inched. He also captured his first NCAA crown by clearing 18 feet 4.5 inched, then followed up with a gold medal performance of 18 feet 8.25 inches at the outdoor championship. He was the only pole vaulter to surpass the 18-foot mark at nationals and is the only C-USA athlete to ever clear 18-feet indoors and outdoors.

Colwick will spend part of the summer competing in the international track circuit in Europe before returning to Rice for his senior year.