bTahesia Harrigan was awarded Big Ten Track and Field Freshman of the Year this morning by the Big Ten Conference. The British Virgin Islands native becomes only the second Gopher to earn the award.

At the Big Ten Championships on May 17-19, Harrigan placed second in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Her time of 11.37 seconds in the 100-meter dash broke the school record and ranked as the eighth fastest time in the nation, while her 200-meter dash time of 23.46 seconds marked a career-best time and the provisionally qualified her for nationals. Harrigan was also a member of the third place 4x100-meter relay squad that provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge, La. on May 29-June 1.

Harrigan earned All-American honors in the indoor season with her second-place finish in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Championships. She became the first Minnesota sprinter to earn All-American honors in an individual event and the first indoor All-American since 1999. Harrigan also tied the school record for the highest finish at a national meet.

In just two indoor season and one outdoor season, Harrigan has broken four school records and placed herself 20 times on the school's top ten performer's list. She has also broken three British Virgin Islands national records (100, 200 and long jump).