University of Georgia Athletics
Track’s Tilga, Moore, Thomas Earn USTFCCCA Regional Awards
June 04, 2021 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia junior Karel Tilga, sophomore Jasmine Moore and Associate Head Coach Althea Thomas have all earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Region outdoor awards, according to a USTFCCCA announcement on Friday.
Tilga, a native of Tartu, Estonia, was named the South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year, Moore, a native of Grand Prairie, Texas, was named the South Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year and Thomas, a native of Birmingham, Ala., was named the South Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year as the final collegiate meet of the year draws closer.
This marks the fifth South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year honor outdoors for the men and first since a different Bulldog (Denzel Comenentia) won the accolade for the third straight year in 2018. Moore's award is the seventh of its kind for the Lady Bulldogs since 2007 and first since UGA legend Keturah Orji won three consecutive from 2016-18. Thomas is the first winner of the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year honor since throws coach Don Babbitt collected the 2009 accolade.
Moore also garnered the 2020 South Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year indoors and was one of three finalists for the National Women's Field Athlete of the Year that season.
Moore's teammate and fellow sophomore Anna Hall earned this year's indoor South Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year honor to give the Lady Bulldogs a clean sweep. Earlier this week Moore was named the SEC Women's Newcomer of the Year for the outdoor season along with sophomore Matthew Boling on the men's side.
Tilga scored 8,484 points to win Spec Towns Invitational with a school and facility record. His performance made him the No. 2 all-time collegiate performer with the No. 2 all-time collegiate performance. Tilga's tally was the top decathlon score before the month of May in history. He is No. 4 on the all-time Estonia national list and currently No. 3 on 2021 world list. Tilga, who did not compete in the decathlon at the league meet, was sixth in javelin 66.16m (217 feet, 1 inch) at the SEC Championships.
Moore qualified for Nationals in both triple and long jumps and is 3-0 in the triple jump through SECs. Her top triple jump mark of 14.39m/47-2 ½ (No. 2 nationally) is an Olympic standard and made her the No. 3 all-time collegiate performer with the No. 4 all-time collegiate performance. Moore won the SEC outdoor triple jump title to complement her back-to-back indoor crowns. Her top long jump mark of 6.83m/22-5 (No. 3 nationally) is a school record, an Olympic standard and made her the No. 11 all-time collegiate performer. Moore was third at SEC Championships in the long jump.
Thomas, who has guided the Bulldog sprinters, hurdlers and relays since 2017, has six entries (2x 100m, 200m, 400m, 400mH, 4x100m relay) for the NCAA Championships, including three who finished the conference championships ranked in the top five nationally. Her event area scored 28 of 48 points for the men at SEC Championships. Thomas has guided her crew to school records in the 200m (20.06), 400m (44.61) and 4x100m relay (38.57) during 2021. She began coaching freshman Arian Smith just before the SEC Championships and guided him to eighth at SECs and a spot at Nationals with a 10.10 (wind-aided).
Tilga and Moore, guided by Thomas and the other Bulldog coaches, will join their teammates to compete at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 9-12.
Results and recaps from the coming NCAA Outdoor Championships will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Tilga, a native of Tartu, Estonia, was named the South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year, Moore, a native of Grand Prairie, Texas, was named the South Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year and Thomas, a native of Birmingham, Ala., was named the South Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year as the final collegiate meet of the year draws closer.
This marks the fifth South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year honor outdoors for the men and first since a different Bulldog (Denzel Comenentia) won the accolade for the third straight year in 2018. Moore's award is the seventh of its kind for the Lady Bulldogs since 2007 and first since UGA legend Keturah Orji won three consecutive from 2016-18. Thomas is the first winner of the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year honor since throws coach Don Babbitt collected the 2009 accolade.
Moore also garnered the 2020 South Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year indoors and was one of three finalists for the National Women's Field Athlete of the Year that season.
Moore's teammate and fellow sophomore Anna Hall earned this year's indoor South Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year honor to give the Lady Bulldogs a clean sweep. Earlier this week Moore was named the SEC Women's Newcomer of the Year for the outdoor season along with sophomore Matthew Boling on the men's side.
Tilga scored 8,484 points to win Spec Towns Invitational with a school and facility record. His performance made him the No. 2 all-time collegiate performer with the No. 2 all-time collegiate performance. Tilga's tally was the top decathlon score before the month of May in history. He is No. 4 on the all-time Estonia national list and currently No. 3 on 2021 world list. Tilga, who did not compete in the decathlon at the league meet, was sixth in javelin 66.16m (217 feet, 1 inch) at the SEC Championships.
Moore qualified for Nationals in both triple and long jumps and is 3-0 in the triple jump through SECs. Her top triple jump mark of 14.39m/47-2 ½ (No. 2 nationally) is an Olympic standard and made her the No. 3 all-time collegiate performer with the No. 4 all-time collegiate performance. Moore won the SEC outdoor triple jump title to complement her back-to-back indoor crowns. Her top long jump mark of 6.83m/22-5 (No. 3 nationally) is a school record, an Olympic standard and made her the No. 11 all-time collegiate performer. Moore was third at SEC Championships in the long jump.
Thomas, who has guided the Bulldog sprinters, hurdlers and relays since 2017, has six entries (2x 100m, 200m, 400m, 400mH, 4x100m relay) for the NCAA Championships, including three who finished the conference championships ranked in the top five nationally. Her event area scored 28 of 48 points for the men at SEC Championships. Thomas has guided her crew to school records in the 200m (20.06), 400m (44.61) and 4x100m relay (38.57) during 2021. She began coaching freshman Arian Smith just before the SEC Championships and guided him to eighth at SECs and a spot at Nationals with a 10.10 (wind-aided).
Tilga and Moore, guided by Thomas and the other Bulldog coaches, will join their teammates to compete at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 9-12.
Results and recaps from the coming NCAA Outdoor Championships will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Players Mentioned
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