RICHARDSON – Texas A&M University-Commerce sophomore Minna Svaerd has been named the 2019 Lone Star Conference Female Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, as voted on by the LSC's head coaches.
 
Svaerd (Karlstad, Sweden) was the national runner-up in the women's 400 meter hurdles at last week's NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Kingsville. Her time of 59.21 seconds was her season-best time in the event and helped push the Lions to their best-ever team finish at the national meet in 11^th place.
 
"Minna had a long season after racing back home in Sweden over the summer of 2018," said Lion head track and field coach George Pincock. "For her to finish the outdoor season with a silver medal at the national championships and this award proves just how hard she worked to come back and impact our team."
 
Svaerd is the second consecutive Lion to win the Female Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, following in the footsteps of Kamryn McKee in 2017. Eboni Coby (Lancaster) also won the Wes Kittley Award as the Outstanding Female Track Athlete earlier this year. Coby was the LSC champion in two events and scored 12 points for the Lions at the national meet with third place finishes in the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash.