SCIAC Track and Field Athletes and Coaches Honored by USTFCCA
NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Monday winners of regional awards for the 2011 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season. Six SCIAC Athletes and Coaches were honored with awards.
2011 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field – Region Award Winners
Men's Track Athlete of the Year
WEST REGION - Marcus Fortugno - La
Verne
Fortugno has the fastest entering time in the 400 meters heading
into this weekend’s NCAA Division III Championships, the only
competitor in the country to break 47 seconds in the event during
the regular season. He will also compete in the 200 meters and as a
member of La Verne’s 4x100-meter relay at the NCAA Division
III Championships. Fortugno is a junior from Glendora, Calif.
Men's Field Athlete of the Year
WEST REGION - Eric Flores - Cal
Lutheran
A senior from Custer, S.D., Flores has outpaced the rest of
Division III this season by more than 20 feet in the hammer throw,
entering the NCAA meet as the No. 1 seed with a season’s best
of 223-5 (68.10m). Flores is also slated in the shot put where he
holds the No. 2 seed. Flores was the SCIAC champ with the hammer
and shot this season.
Men's Coach of the Year
WEST REGION - Mike Schmidt - Redlands
The SCIAC Conference Champions finished the regular season ranked
No. 1 in West Region and 25th nationally. Mike
Schmidt’s Bulldogs will have seven entries at the NCAA
Championship meet.
Women's Field Athlete of the Year
WEST REGION - Kelly Young – Occidental
A senior from San Bruno, Calif., Young qualified and is
entered in all four throwing events for the NCAA Championships. In
the shot put, Young holds the No. 4 seed, having tossed a season
best of 47-2½ (14.39m). Young was the SCIAC Championships
high-point scorer with a 38-point carry. This season, Young claimed
new Occidental records in the shot, discus, and hammer.
Women's Coach of the Year
WEST REGION - Kendra Reimer -
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Reimer’s Athenas finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in
the West and No. 9 in the national rankings. The SCIAC champions
will have eight entries in the NCAA Outdoor Championship meet.
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
WEST REGION - Jason Romero -
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
In his first year coaching at CMS, Romero has two young women
competing in both the long jump and the triple jump this weekend at
the NCAA Championships. The Athenas finished up the regular season
with a national ranking of ninth.
