Empire 8 Announces Men's Indoor Track and Field Award Winners
The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for the 2012-13 men’s indoor track and field season. The conference coaches vote on the awards.
Nazareth junior
Jake Lafaver has been voted the Track Athlete of the Year. Lafaver started the season with a Empire 8 title in the 400 meter dash with a winning time of :51.56. He then was crowed the 800 meter champion at the New York State Collegiate Track Conference (NYSCTC) championship with a facility record time of 1:55.72. He ended the year with a personal best 1:53.24 in the 800 meters to finish third at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship. He ranked 32nd nationally in the 800m.
Stevens Institute of Technology
Victor Servito has been granted the award for Field Athlete of the Year. The senior finished second in the heptathlon at the ECAC Championship on March 2 with a school record 4,719 points. Servito took first in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56 seconds), second in the high jump (1.90 meters) and fourth in the 60-meter dash (7.38 seconds). He also cleared 3.80 meters in the pole vault, recorded a toss of 9.99 meters in the shot put, leaped six meters in the long jump and clocked a 2:49.26 in the 1000 meter run. Servito previously set the school record at the Bomber Invitational Multi on February 2 (4,577 points). He finished the season ranked 17th nationally in the heptathlon.
St. John Fisher
Devin Cornelius was tabbed the Rookie of the Year. Cornelius racked up 4,489 points in the heptathlon for a third place finish (first freshman) at the NYSCTC championship as he set personal records in all seven events during the championship. He finished sixth overall in the heptathlon (4412) to lead Fisher to the program's first-ever medal at the ECAC Indoor Championship. Cornelius finished the season ranked 39th in the nation and the fourth best freshman in the heptathlon.
Ithaca’s
Jim Nichols has been named the Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year for the sixth time in a row and seventh overall. Nichols guided Ithaca to its sixth straight Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship, as the Bombers had nine individuals and one relay team earn All-Empire 8 honors. Ithaca also won its second NYSCTC Indoor Championship and first since 2001. The Bombers edged the second-place team by five points. Nichols and his coaching staff were named NYSCTC Men's Coaching Staff of the Meet.