Florida State Men

Sophomore Craphonso Thorpe was named ACC Men's Performer of the Year after compiling two individual championships at this year's conference tournament.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the winners of the men's and women's outdoor track and field awards Wednesday afternoon. The Florida State men's track and field team swept all three awards with sophomore Craphonso Thorpe winning Performer of the Year, freshman Garrett Johnson taking Rookie of the Year honors and in his final year as the men's and women's track and field head coach, Terry Long was named Coach of the Year.

Thorpe dominated the men's sprint events at the ACC Championships winning both the 100m and 200m dash events. The Tallahassee native achieved personal best times and established regional qualifying marks in route to winning the 100m (10.43) and 200m (20.87). He also ran a leg on the 4x100m relay team that finished second. Thorpe currently leads the ACC in both events. His time in the 200m currently ranks him 12th in the nation and third in the east region, while he ranks 28th in the 100m and sixth in the region. Thorpe also added ACC Performer of the Week honors to his list of accomplishments earlier this season after an outstanding performance at the Yellow Jacket Invitational.

Johnson won the men's shot put competition on only one throw. In his first attempt, the Tampa native established the mark to beat at 61' 3.5" (18.68m), which no one could come close to matching. With the win, Johnson broke a six-year winning streak by North Carolina in that event. Johnson also was the Seminole's top performer in the men's discus competition. He finished in second place after establishing a regional qualifying mark of 169' 11" (51.79m). Johnson currently ranks ninth in the nation in the shot put and first in the east region. He currently is the No. 1 rated freshman in that event.

Coach Terry Long added to his list of accolades in his final year as head coach of the men's and women's track and field team. He garnered his third ACC Outdoor Coach of the Year award, his second in a row and third in the last four years. Long led the men's team to their second straight conference championship and accumulated a team high in points with 202. The Seminoles now join Maryland as the only men's team to compile 200 or more points in ACC championship meet history. This is the sixth time in his legendary coaching career that Long has been recognized by the ACC as Coach of the Year in both indoor and outdoor competition.

The Seminoles will next compete at the Penn Relays this weekend in preparation for the NCAA East Regional Championships to be held in Fairfax, Va. May 30-31.