Sappleton Named Big 12 Male T&F Athlete of the Week

NORMAN, Okla. Sooner senior Aldwyn Sappleton, who took over the top spot in the 800 meter in the Big 12, was named Big 12 Male Track and Field Athlete of the Week for his performance during the week of Feb. 7-13.

Sappleton is the first Sooner to win the track and field award this season.

In his first race this season at 800 meters, Sappleton established a career best and broke his own school record by more than a second on his way to victory at the Cyclone Classic last Saturday. His time of 1:47.43 is the top time in the Big 12 with one weekend of competition left before the conference championships.

An automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Indoor, the time is the best time in the country by more than .30 seconds with three weeks of qualifying left before the NCAA Championships March 11-12 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Sappleton, who received his undergraduate degree from OU last May and has begun work on his master's degree, is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and a three-time Academic All-American.

He has earned All-America honors twice as a member of the 1600-meter relay and once in the outdoor 800. He has qualified for the NCAA Indoor three times including this season. He missed making the indoor field in 2004 in the 800 by just two spots. He also has participated in the outdoor NCAA meet two times, both as an individual and as a member of the 1600-meter relay.

He won the Big 12 Championship in the 600-yard run in 2003 as a sophomore.

Sappleton missed the 2004 outdoor season following an injury but recovered in time to win the 2004 Jamaican Senior National title in the 800 in June.