DALLAS – Following several stellar performances at the 2020 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, this year’s Performers of the Meet are student-athletes from Rice, Middle Tennessee and Charlotte.
 
Three first-time winners were crowned in Male Track Performer of the Meet, Middle Tennessee’s Jacob Choge, Male Field Performer of the Meet, Keon Howe of Charlotte, and Female Track Performer of the Meet, Rice’s Grace Forbes. Rice’s Michelle Fokam received the third Female Field Performer of the Meet award of her indoor career.
 
All awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches and solely take into account the student-athlete’s performances at the 2020 championships.
 
Male Track Performer of the Meet – Jacob Choge, Middle Tennessee, Sr., Eldoret, Kenya
Choge earned the first Performer of the Meet accolade of his decorated career with the Blue Raiders. The senior was named High Point Scorer of the Meet after tallying 36 points. He garnered a gold medal in the mile and the 5000m and a silver medal in the 800m and the 3000m, flying past his competitors. The Eldoret, Kenya, native set a new C-USA meet record of 14:07.32 in the 5000m, as well.
 
Male Field Performer of the Meet – Keon Howe, Charlotte. R-Sr., Charlotte, North Carolina
After redshirting during the 2018-19 season, Howe came back with a bang, garnering his first Performer of the Meet nod. The Charlotte, North Carolina, product earned a spot on the podium in both the pole vault and high jump. Howe placed third in the high jump for six points. He earned the pole vault title after clearing 5.38m, a new C-USA meet record. His 16 points helped Charlotte to the team title.
 
Female Track Performer of the Meet – Grace Forbes, Rice, Fr., Wallingford, Pennsylvania
At the first C-USA championships of her budding career, Forbes was named High Point Scorer of the Meet and Freshman of the Meet for her 20-point performance. The freshman claimed gold medals in the mile and the 3000m. Forbes finished 22 seconds faster than the second-place finisher in the 3000m in a season-best time of 4:40.05, ranking 36^th in the nation. Her two first-place finishes propelled Rice to their fourth team C-USA indoor title.
 
Female Field Performer of the Meet – Michelle Fokam, Rice, Sr., Katy, Texas
For the third year in a row, Fokam has been voted the Female Indoor Field Performer of the Meet. The senior had an outstanding weekend for the Owls, placing first in the triple jump and second in the long jump. Her triple jump leap of 13.32m broke her own school record and marked the eighth C-USA title of her career. She also posted a personal-best distance of 6.19m in the long jump, which is tied for 28^th in the NCAA. Her 18 total points helped Rice to their first team title since 2009.