PROVO, Utah-Per a Thursday report, former Panguitch High star and current BYU cross country/track and field standout Whittni Orton has been nominated for the 2018 Curtis Pugsley athlete of the year award.

The Pugsley award is the highest recognition a BYU track and field/cross country athlete can receive and it is awarded annually to one male and female athlete in the program.

The award is named in honor of Curtis Pugsley, a former BYU track and field athlete who passed away in 2013, ultimately losing his battle with cancer.

While competing for the Cougars, Pugsley earned multiple All-American honors and won a conference title in the decathlon.

Orton was named as a 2018 first-team All-American in indoor track and field as she placed seventh nationally in the mile (4:35.44) at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She also placed seventh in the 800-meter run (2:08.71) at the MPSF Indoor Championships.

During the outdoor season, Orton earned honorable All-American status by placing 19th in the 1500-meter run preliminaries (4:17:84) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She also placed 8th in the 1500-meter run at the NCAA West prelims, posting a career-best time of 4:14.41.

The winner is determined by a scoring system predicated upon accomplishments entailing both the 2018 indoor and outdoor seasons.

Points are rewarded for performances at both the indoor and outdoor championships, All-America recognition, school records set or broken and BYU top placement.

The winner will be announced November 27 at an awards ceremony in the Cougar Room at LaVell Edwards Stadium at 7:00 pm.