March 6, 2013
Indoor Track and Field Regional Awards Announced
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the organization’s region athletes and coaches of the year for the 2013 NCAA Division III indoor track & field season on Wednesday. Many of the athletes and coaches will be on hand for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships set for this coming weekend, March 8-9, in Naperville, Ill.
Two State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) athletes and two coaches have been recognized.
ATLANTIC REGION MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Spencer Lefort – SUNY Fredonia
A senior from Java Center, N.Y., Lefort was the 2013 ECAC heptathlon champion with a score of 4,946, seeding him third heading into the NCAA Championships. He holds the ECAC Division III record in the heptathlon as well as the SUNYAC record in the heptathlon.
ATLANTIC REGION HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR – Matt LoPiccolo – SUNY Oneonta
LoPiccolo, in his 13th year at the helm of SUNY Oneonta, was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year after Red Dragons won their first ever team championship. His athletes won six individual titles and one relay as Bernstein and Fox were named SUNYAC Track and SUNYAC Field Athletes of the Year, respectively. Oneonta scored in 15 of the 16 events at the SUNYAC Championships totaling 153 points. LoPiccolo, who specializes in sprints, hurdles and middle-distance, will send a pair of student-athletes to the NCAA Championships at 60 meters and in the 60 hurdles.
ATLANTIC REGION ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR – Marques Dexter – SUNY Cortland
Dexter, in his fourth season coaching horizontal jumps at SUNY Cortland, coached two NCAA Championships qualifiers this season in No. 4 long jumper Sarah Bonnell and No. 9 triple jumper Amber Stephens. Two of his student-athletes scored 16 combined points of the team’s 59 to win the ECAC team championships. Bonnell is the top DIII freshman long jumper and a conference champion.
ATLANTIC REGION WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR– Sasha Henry – Buffalo State
Henry, a senior from Mt. Vernon, N.Y., is ranked No. 1 in DIII at 60 meters with the division’s two fastest times and No. 5 at 200 meters this season, and will compete at 60 meters at the NCAA Championships. She earned SUNYAC MVP honors in winning at both 60 and 200 meters at the Championships. Henry has only lost one race the entire season, coming in 60 finals at DI Kent State in December.
Two State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) athletes and two coaches have been recognized.
ATLANTIC REGION MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Spencer Lefort – SUNY Fredonia
A senior from Java Center, N.Y., Lefort was the 2013 ECAC heptathlon champion with a score of 4,946, seeding him third heading into the NCAA Championships. He holds the ECAC Division III record in the heptathlon as well as the SUNYAC record in the heptathlon.
ATLANTIC REGION HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR – Matt LoPiccolo – SUNY Oneonta
LoPiccolo, in his 13th year at the helm of SUNY Oneonta, was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year after Red Dragons won their first ever team championship. His athletes won six individual titles and one relay as Bernstein and Fox were named SUNYAC Track and SUNYAC Field Athletes of the Year, respectively. Oneonta scored in 15 of the 16 events at the SUNYAC Championships totaling 153 points. LoPiccolo, who specializes in sprints, hurdles and middle-distance, will send a pair of student-athletes to the NCAA Championships at 60 meters and in the 60 hurdles.
ATLANTIC REGION ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR – Marques Dexter – SUNY Cortland
Dexter, in his fourth season coaching horizontal jumps at SUNY Cortland, coached two NCAA Championships qualifiers this season in No. 4 long jumper Sarah Bonnell and No. 9 triple jumper Amber Stephens. Two of his student-athletes scored 16 combined points of the team’s 59 to win the ECAC team championships. Bonnell is the top DIII freshman long jumper and a conference champion.
ATLANTIC REGION WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR– Sasha Henry – Buffalo State
Henry, a senior from Mt. Vernon, N.Y., is ranked No. 1 in DIII at 60 meters with the division’s two fastest times and No. 5 at 200 meters this season, and will compete at 60 meters at the NCAA Championships. She earned SUNYAC MVP honors in winning at both 60 and 200 meters at the Championships. Henry has only lost one race the entire season, coming in 60 finals at DI Kent State in December.
