Tyson David and Joe Walker Honored by SEC
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM
Nov. 13, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference released its SEC Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year honors for the cross country season Wednesday night. Junior Tyson David was named the 2008 SEC Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year and Coach Joe Walker was named SEC Male Coach of the Year.
David finished second at the SEC Championships to earn First Team All-SEC honors and led the Alabama Crimson Tide to the SEC title. This marked the first title for the Crimson Tide since 1973. A two-time SEC Athlete of the Week, David finished the 8K race in 23:16.26 and holds the second fastest time in the SEC this season.
"I am excited for Tyson," Walker said. "Anytime you've got an athlete that wins an award of that nature, it's exciting for the individual and the program. He's put together a tremendous year, but the big ones are still to come."
David is only the second University of Alabama male runner to be named SEC Athlete of the Week twice in a season and the third to be named Athlete of the Year. He joins current teammate junior Emmanuel Bor who was named SEC Athlete of the Year in 2007 and has also been named SEC Athlete of the Week twice in a season. David Kimani is the only other athlete to be named Athlete of the Year by the SEC, doing so in back to back years in 2000 and 2001. This is the first time since 2001 that the Crimson Tide has had back to back Athlete of the Year honors.
Walker earned his second career SEC Male Coach of the Year honor, the first since 2001 when he was Co-Coach of the Year with the legendary John McDonnell (Arkansas). Walker guided the Crimson Tide to their first SEC title since 1973, the second title ever for Alabama. The win also snapped Arkansas' 17-year streak of consecutive SEC titles. Alabama had five runners finish in the top 10, more than any other school.
"As for me, that totally reflects on team," Walker said. "You don't win any coaching awards unless the guys get the job done. That's the only reason that award was granted. A lot of credit has to go to Coach Glance too for putting a lot of faith and back into the cross country program."
Next up for the Tide men are the NCAA South Regionals being held in Knoxville, Tenn. on Nov. 15. The NCAA National Championships will be held on Nov. 24 in Terre Haute, Ind.
