April 19, 2004

LUBBOCK, Texas - For the first time ever in Big 12 history, six track and field student athletes were selected as athletes of the week. The most athlete of the week winners that Big 12 track and field has ever had was four (two male and two female). Baylor's Darold Williamson, Nebraska's Eric Eshbach, and Texas Tech's Jonathan Johnson were named tri-male athletes of the week, while April Holiness of Baylor, Becky Breisch of Nebraska and Sanya Richards of Texas were selected at tri-female athletes of the week for their performances during the stint of April 12-18, the conference announced on Monday.

Johnson turned in his second best career time in the 800 meters with a time of 1:46.32 at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif., for a first place finish. The Abilene, Texas, native finished on top of some of the nation's best runners, including Nike's Bernard Lagat. The time in the 800 gave Johnson the second-best mark in Tech history and his best since 2002. He now moves to the No. 1 spot in the nation and No. 2 in the world as well as the top spot in the league and region.