Track and Field

Nebraska's Owusu, Pepin claim USTCA Track Awards

Nebraska Track and Field Coach Gary Pepin was named the USTCA Midwest Regional Men's and Women's Indoor Coach of the Year, while senior All-American sprinter Lesley Owusu earned female-athlete-of-the-year honors after helping the Huskers sweep the Big 12 indoor team titles for the second consecutive year.

Pepin, who earned the same honor last season, has guided the Husker women to 19 of the last 21 indoor conference titles, while seven of his last eight men's teams have claimed indoor league crowns. In his 21st season at the helm of the Husker squad, Pepin has led NU to a total of 54 conference titles. Nebraska won both the men's and women's 2001 team titles at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Feb. 24.

Owusu led the Husker women to their second consecutive indoor conference team title winning the 200- and 400-meter dashes. The Slough, Berkshire, England native posted the second-fastest 400-meter time in the nation (52.37) at the league meet. She will represent Nebraska in both events at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend.