Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Receives Big South Conference Sportsmanship Award

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville women's outdoor track and field team was awarded the Big South Conference Sportsmanship Award, which was announced by the league office on Thursday, June 21.

"I am excited to receive this honor from our fellow conference schools," said head track & field coach Jesse Norman. "This shows the type of kids that we recruit, and it's pretty cool that our fellow institutions recognize that."

The Sportsmanship Award is the second time the UNC Asheville women's outdoor program has received the accolade. The Bulldogs won the inaugural Sportsmanship Award in 2006.

At the conclusion of the Big South Outdoor Championship at High Point, Norman earned his first women's outdoor track & field Coach of the Year Award.

Kayli Nichols, who recently graduated from UNC Asheville, had one of the best finishes for the Bulldogs at the Big South Outdoor Championships, as she finished second in the women's 100m hurdles. Nichols was also awarded the Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year following the conclusion of the championship meet.

Desire Brown also earned All-Conference honors, as she placed third in the women's 400m.

Overall, UNC Asheville accumulated 50 team points, which was a 17-point improvement from the 2017 outdoor championship in Charleston, S.C.