NEW ORLEANS, La. – Texas A&M University-Commerce freshman high jumper Ushan Perera has been named the 2021 Division II Indoor National Men's Field Athlete of the Year, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday. Perera is the first Lion to ever win a National Athlete of the Year honor from the USTFCCCA.
 
Perera (Mahabage, Sri Lanka) won the high jump at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Perera's top clearance of 2.26m (7-5) came on his second attempt of the competition at the height, putting him in a tie for the No. 4 performer all-time in NCAA Division II. He also reset the Sri Lanka national record he broke earlier this season at 2.25m (7-4½).
 
Perera successfully cleared the first 14 bars of his collegiate career. His first miss came at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships on 2.25m (7-4½), but cleared that height on his second attempt. He was named the South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year prior to the national meet. He also earned first team all-LSC honors as the LSC champion in the high jump.
 
"Ushan is an outstanding student-athlete, and I'm exceptionally proud of him for earning this award," said Lion head coach George Pincock. "He's a very talented jumper who is just getting started on what he can accomplish. I look forward to what he can do as he progresses."