ROCHESTER, NY – Senior Marcia McCord and junior Emma Dewart of Ithaca College repeated as Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Track Athlete and Field Athlete of the Year, respectively, as the conference announced the year-end awards for men’s and women’s indoor track and field. McCord and Dewart also received top honors at the conference championship.
Junior Michael Dempsey of Rochester Institute of Technology repeated as Men’s Athlete of the Year, while senior Jeff Wetmore of Ithaca was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Year.
Dewart became the second women’s track and field athlete in the program’s history to win a national title when she captured the pentathlon at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. A four-time All-American, Dewart was also named Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year, and won Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 55-meter hurdles, high jump, and long jump.
McCord qualified for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in three events, placing 12th in the 400 meters. She captured the 55- and 200-meter dashes at the Empire 8 championship and the New York State Cross Country and Track Championship (NYSCTC) meet.
Dempsey earned All-American honors for the third time in his career, finishing fifth in the pole vault at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. He captured first place in the event at the Empire 8 and ECAC championship meets.
Wetmore won the 200-meter dash at the Empire 8 and NYSCTC championships and placed second in the 55-meter dash in both meets. He ran on the winning 1,600-meter relay team at the conference championship, and the victorious 800- and 1,600 relays at the NYSCTC meet.
First-year student-athlete Katie Wyant of Nazareth College and freshman Brendan Edmonds were named the Empire 8 Women’s and Men’s Rookie of the Year, respectively. Wyant placed 3rd in the 400 meters and 7th in the 800 meters at the NYSCTC meet. Edmonds placed second in the 400 meters at the Empire 8 championships, second in the triple jump at the state meet, and joined Wetmore on the winning relays at the conference and state championships.
Jennifer Potter was named Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive year and seventh overall. Jim Nichols of Ithaca garnered the men’s award for the fourth time in a row and fifth overall.
Empire 8 2011 End of the Year Honors:
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year: Jeff Wetmore, Ithaca College
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year: Michael Dempsey, Rochester Institute of Technology
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Brendan Edmonds, Ithaca College
Men’s Coach of the Year: Jim Nichols, Ithaca College
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year: Marcia McCord, Ithaca College
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year: Emma Dewart, Ithaca College
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Katie Wyant, Nazareth College
Women’s Coach of the Year: Jennifer Potter, Ithaca College