Track and field awards conclude Winter/Spring celebrations;
Friesen, Allen, Fast, Jones earn MVP awards

Fresno - Freshman Natalie Friesen and senior Nick Allen were named FPU's most valuable performers in track & field for the 2005 season. The awards were announced last week at the team's awards celebration.

Friesen (Reedley; Immanuel HS) broke FPU records in both the long and triple jumps several times this season. She earned NAIA All-America honors for her fifth place finish in the triple at the NAIA National Indoor Championship in Johnson City, Tennessee in March.

Friesen is also the 2005 Golden State Athletic Conference triple jump champion, winning the event with a 38-01.25 effort on her final attempt. She will compete in both events later this month at the NAIA National Outdoor Championship in Louisville, Kentucky (May 26-28).

Allen (Linden; San Joaquin Delta CC), who lowered his 100 meter time by 0.76 (from 11.76 to 11.00) and improved 30 inches in the long jump (from 20-05 to 23-00.50), 43 inches in the triple jump (41-04.50 to 45-00) and almost 19 feet in the javelin (153-08 to 172-05), was also named the team's most improved performer. Like Friesen, Allen is the 2005 GSAC triple jump champion.

Guards Denise Fast (Bakersfield, Stockdale HS) and Albert Jones (Memphis, Tennessee; Southwest Tennessee CC, ) were named the most valuable players for the women's and men's basketball teams, respectively. Fast, who also earned the team's outstanding defensive award, averaged 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season. Jones averaged 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Other award winners are listed below.