BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky University senior Jacob Korir and freshman Shannon Davis have been named the 2008 OVC Male Track Athlete of the Year and Male Freshman of the Year respectively, the league office announced Friday. The two will combine this weekend in an attempt to lead the men’s track and field team to their first OVC outdoor title since 1957.

Korir is finishing his Colonel career in dominating fashion. Heading into this weekend’s outdoor championships, the senior All-American from Nairobi, Kenya is ranked first in the country in the 5,000 meters and second in the 10,000 meters. His 5,000 meters time of 13:29.12, ran at the Mt. SAC Relays in California two weeks ago, broke his own school record by nearly 18 seconds. His 10,000 meters time of 28:04.47 is just one second off the time of LaSalle’s Sean Quigley for the top time in that nation. Korir was named the Male OVC Track Athlete of the Week twice this outdoor season.

Davis, a native of Atlanta, transferred to EKU for football from Tulane University, where he played wide receiver for the Green Wave last fall. He immediately burst onto the scene as one of the top sprinters in the OVC. Going into this weekend, Davis sits atop the OVC Best List in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.20, and is the second ranked 200 meter dash runner in the conference at 21.37. He was also named the Male OVC Track Athlete of the Week twice during the outdoor season.

Following this weekend's championships, the Colonel track and field team will return to action May 16-17 at the Georgia Tech Invitational.