Missouri's Ja'Mari Ward was named the SEC's Freshman Field Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday.
Ward, from Cahokia, Illinois, won the long jump title on May 12 at the SEC Championships. His 26-feet, 8¼-inch jump to upset Florida's KeAndre Bates, the 2017 NCAA indoor long jump national champion, for the title ranks second in both program history and the country during the 2017 season. Ward also posted a program top-10 mark in the triple jump during his first season with the Tigers.
Unfortunately, an aggravated ankle prevented Ward from competing in the NCAA Championships West Preliminary on May 25, and the freshman will not be able to compete in the NCAA Championships meet (June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon).