NEW ORLEANS - University of Colorado senior Emma Coburn was named the USTFCCCA Mountain Region Athlete of the Year for her mile run performance of 4:29.86 at the 106^th Millrose Games on February 16.

The Crested Butte, Colo., native became the fifth fastest collegiate miler ever when she finished fourth overall at the Millrose Games. It is currently the fastest time in the NCAA this year as she was the top collegiate finisher in the race.

The Millrose Games was Coburn's first race of any distance since last August and was her only indoor race to date. The 2012 Olympian improved on her previous personal best of 4:36.08 from 2011 when she placed eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Nike's Sheila Reid won the mile in 4:27 and high schooler Mary Cain took second with a high school record of 4:28.25. Kate Grace (Oiselle) finished just behind Cain in 4:28.79. Coburn was able to hold off Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino who finished in 4:30.03 and Pac-12 foe Jordan Hasay ended up in 10^th place (4:36.21).

Coburn, along with teammates Joe Morris and Aric Van Halen, will compete this weekend at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, March 8-9, in Fayetteville, Ark.