One of three finalists for track and field’s most prestigious collegiate award, Makusha needs one of his patented big finishes, which will require a little help.Despite becoming just the fourth man in history to win the 100m dash and long jump at this year’s NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa — joining the distinguished trio of Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and DeHart Hubbard — Makusha trails Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson and Florida’s Christian Taylor in the online voting.
Makusha, who ran and jumped his way into company with Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens, is one of only four people to win NCAA titles in the 100m and the long jump and is the winner of the Anthony J McKevlin Award as the league’s top male athlete. The accolades, determined by a voting of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, are named for respected journalists who chronicled the ACC from its inception.
Makusha, a junior from Zimbabwe, edged Duke basketball standout Nolan Smith 17 votes to 16 to become the 58th winner of the McKevlin Award. In the past year, the 2008 Olympian built on an already impressive resume.
His victory in the 100m dash (9,89) at the NCAA outdoor championships, achieved in the rain, set a meet record and was the fourth-fastest performance in the world under any conditions this year.
His victorious long jump of 8,40m, the second-longest in the world in 2011 and best jump in 18 years at the NCAA Championship meet, delivered his third NCAA championship in the event and made him the fourth person in NCAA history to win the long jump and the 100m in a single NCAA Championship. The exclusive fraternity includes Lewis and Owens, who combined for 13 Olympic gold medals.— Seminoles.com
