Grenada’s Felix named MW Male Student-Athlete of the Year

Kurt Felix

BOISE, Idaho, June 28, 2012 - Boise State track and field student-athlete Kurt Felix was named the 2011-12 Mountain West Male Athlete of the Year Award winner, Thursday (June 28), as the league's top male athlete across all sports.

Felix was named the 2012 MW Men's Outdoor Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year after being crowned national champion in the men's decathlon at this year's NCAA Outdoor Championships. The senior scored a Boise State school record, Mountain West record and Grenada national record of 8,062-points over two days of action to win the 10-event competition by a 106-point margin. 

Felix received the men's Outstanding Performance and High Point Performer awards at the 2012 MW Indoor Championships after winning a conference title in the heptathlon and finishing in the top three in the long jump (second), triple jump (third) and high jump (tied for third), earning all-conference honours in all four events. He duplicated awards at the MW Outdoor Championships two months later, claiming crowns and all-MW accolades in the decathlon and javelin. 

Felix, who earned All-American status in both the long jump (indoor) and decathlon this season, will be competing in the latter event for Grenada at the 2012 Olympics in London. The decathlon competition is scheduled for Wednesday-Thursday, August 8-9.

TCU's Whitney Gipson (track and field) was named the MW Female Student-Athlete of the Year after sweeping the 2012 indoor and outdoor national titles in the long jump.

Established by the Mountain West Joint Council in May 2010, the MW Athlete of the Year Awards are bestowed annually to one male and one female student-athlete who have achieved athletic excellence during the past academic year.

In addition to superior athletic achievement, criterion for the MW Athlete of the Year Award requires that nominees be in good academic standing throughout their season of competition, and demonstrate good character and conduct on and off the playing field. 

Year               Male                                                                   Female
2009-10          Jerry Hughes (football), TCU                                Jodi Ewart (golf), New Mexico
2010-11          Jimmer Fredette (basketball), BYU                       Danielle Minch (volleyball), Colorado State
2011-12          Kurt Felix (track and field), Boise State                 Whitney Gipson (track and field), TCU

SOURCE: Boise State