Barrett Saunders Honored as Co-Big 12 Male Athlete of the Week

April 11, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

University of Kansas track and field junior Barrett Saunders was recognized as the Big 12 Male Co-Athlete of the Week the Big 12 Conference announced Tuesday. Saunders won the men’s section B long jump at the Texas Relays on April 6 with a nation-leading jump of 25-10 (7.87m).

A Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native, Saunders smashed his previous personal best in the event by over 15 inches en route to his victory. The recognition is the first for Saunders, who placed eighth in the long jump at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. The mark also represents a regional qualifying mark for the sociology major and should raise his profile among the nation’s best broad jumpers.

Saunders shared the award with Texas’ Joseph Davis, who won the men’s section B triple jump at the Texas Relays and became the national leader in the event with his performance. Texas’ Chauntae Bayne took home the women’s award after posting a 11.29 second performance in the 100-meter dash, the the third fastest in the nation.

Saunders becomes the third KU track and field student-athlete to be named Big 12 track and field athlete of the week during the 2007 season, joining juniors Kate Sultanova and Ashley Brown. Sultanova was recognized on Feb. 13 for her efforts in the pole vault during the indoor season and Brown was honored on March 27 for her performances in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles.

Saunders’ performance comes on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Kansas Relays, which runs from April 18-21 at Memorial Stadium. Before then, Saunders, Sultanova, Brown and the rest of the Kansas track and field teams will head to Norman, Okla., to compete in the John Jacobs Invitational on April 13-14.

– KU –