Nelson Named MWC Co-Freshman of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West Conference today announced that cross country runners Ross Millington (New Mexico) and Jonathan Nelson (BYU) have been named the 2009 MWC Men’s Cross Country Co-Freshmen of the Year.

Millington covered the 8K course at the 2009 MWC Cross Country Championships in a season-best 24:18.50. The Stockport, England, native finished tenth overall and fifth for the Lobos in the event, which was held at the Cascade Golf Course in Orem, Utah, on Oct. 31.

Nelson, who graduated from Provo’s Timpview High School, placed 17th overall at the 2009 MWC Championships. He clocked a time of 24:55.50 to finish ninth for the Cougars. Nelson has collected top-50 honors in every meet he competed in this season, turning in a season-best time of 24:49.51 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational.

“It’s an honor for Jonathan to be given this award,” said BYU men’s cross country head coach Ed Eyestone. “To come right out of high school and step in to help a top-10 cross country program says a lot about his commitment to the team. It shows that we’re recruiting the right kids who are putting forth a great effort to become vital members of our team.”

Nelson had his best finish of the year at the Pre-Nationals Invitational 8K open race where he came in fourth place overall in 25 minutes flat. He arrived in 23rd place at the UC Riverside Invitational and ran unattached at the BYU Autumn Classic.

Jonathan Nelson, Fr.:
15   BYU Autumn Classic                20:30.2
23   UC Riverside Invit.               24:54.4
49   Bill Dellinger Invit.             24:49.2
4    Pre-Nationals Invit. – Open Race  25:00.8
17   MWC Championships                 24:55.5