University of Minnesota Athletics
Willis, Okoroji Honored by Big Ten
5/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 15, 2012
Two Golden Gophers are among the Big Ten award winners announced by the conference today. Todea-Kay Willis was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, while Chimerem Okoroji earned Minnesota's Sportsmanship Award.
At the Big Ten Championships last weekend, Willis finished second in the long jump with a mark of 20 feet, three inches (6.17m). She also led off the Gophers' 4x100-meter relay team that broke the school record in prelims and finished third the next day. Prior to the Big Ten meet, Willis won the long jump all four times she competed in it this season.
Okoroji was also part of the record-setting 4x100 squad. For the season, she owns the team's best times in both the 100 meters (11.62) and 200 meters (23.91). Her top 200-meter time of the year came at the Arkansas Invitational and earned her the No. 5 ranking in school history in the event.
The full list of Big Ten honorees can be found below.
Track Athlete of the Year
Christina Manning, Ohio State
Field Athlete of the Year
Alexis Thomas, Ohio State
Track Athlete of the Championships
Ashley Spencer, Illinois
Field Athlete of the Championships
Alexis Thomas, Ohio State
Freshman of the Year
Ashley Spencer, Illinois
Coach of the Year
Karen Dennis, Ohio State
ALL BIG TEN
First Team
Ryisha Boyd, Illinois
Latoya Griffith, Illinois
Ashley Kelly, Illinois
Stephanie Richartz, Illinois
Ashley Spencer, Illinois
McKenzie Melander, Iowa
Erin Pendleton, Michigan
Leah O'Connor, Michigan State
Marusa Cernjul, Nebraska
Ashley Miller, Nebraska
Anna Weigandt, Nebraska
Aisha Cavin, Ohio State
Christienne Linton, Ohio State
Christina Manning, Ohio State
Chesna Sykes, Ohio State
Alexis Thomas, Ohio State
Laura Loht, Penn State
Kara Millhouse, Penn State
Dani Bunch, Purdue
Leah Eber, Purdue
Jessica Flax, Wisconsin
Second Team
Breeana Coleman, Illinois
Jesica Ejesieme, Illinois
Kayla Smith, Illinois
Jordan Gray, Indiana
Monique Riddick, Indiana
Betsy Flood, Iowa
Ashley Liverpool, Iowa
Alexandra Leptich, Michigan
Emily Pendleton, Michigan
Jillian Smith, Michigan
Kiley Tobel, Michigan
Rebecca Buchholtz, Michigan State
Todea-Kay Willis, MINNESOTA
Mara Griva, Nebraska
Madison McNary, Ohio State
Doris Anyanwu, Penn State
Ijeoma Iheoma, Penn State
Lauren Kenney, Penn State
Melissa Kurzdorfer, Penn State
Dynasty McGee, Penn State
Kirsten Nieuwendam, Penn State
Dorcas Akinniyi, Wisconsin
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Ashley Kelly, Illinois
Emma Kimoto, Indiana
Betsy Flood, Iowa
Emily Pendleton, Michigan
Rebekah Smeltzer, Michigan State
Chimerem Okoroji, MINNESOTA
Breanna Bussel, Nebraska
Maggie Mullen, Ohio State
Doris Anyanwu, Penn State
Leah Eber, Purdue
Megan Beers, Wisconsin
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Players Mentioned
