Track & Field Instates New Track Athlete of the Year Award with Bronze Plaque Display by Big Statues

Miles Batty, Leif Arrhenius and Lacey Cramer Bleazard were named the 2011 Track Athletes of the Year last Friday night, as the BYU Track and Field teams held a ceremony to honor the recipients of the newly instated Curtis Pugsley Track Athlete of the Year award in a bronze plaque display.

Along with the 2011 recipients, the award winners were also determined for the last 21 years and they were honored at the ceremony, as well. “It’s been a long process that we’ve spent nine months trying to put together,” men’s head track coach Mark Robison said.

“It’s been a long process and a lot of work, but a wonderful thing and I’m really pleased with the way it turned out.”

An outstanding legecy of track and field athletes, dating back to 1991, gathered in the West Annex of the Smith Fieldhouse to watch a video presentation about the athletes who were honored, and Curtis Pugsley was also in attendance and helped inaugurate the award.

“I want this award to represent all of us,” Pugsley said. “And as we go through life and we have to face a lot of struggles and trials and problems, it’s about using that same drive that we had in competition to get through life and help those around us.”

Pugsley participated in track and field at BYU from 2000-2004 and was a multiple All-American and conference champion in the decathlon.

The yearly recipient is determined by a scoring system that combines points scored at indoor and outdoor conference, points awarded for All-American and national champion status, school records and spot on the top ten leader board.

“It was a wonderful idea and it really brought together a lot of people that understood what the tradition here at BYU is in track and field,” women’s head track coach Patrick Shane said. “It’s a great tradition that we’ve started and I’m looking forward to keeping it alive every year with a new presentation.”

The custom bronze sculptures of the award display were sculpted by bronze artist, Matt Glenn, of Big Statues.