ROCHESTER, NY - The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for the 2013 women’s outdoor track and field season. The conference coaches vote on the awards.
Ithaca senior
Jenn Randall has been voted the Track Athlete of the Year. Randall earned All-America honors in the 800 meter run with an eighth place finish to claim her second All-America performance of her career. She also qualified for the national meet in the 1500 meter and placed 15th. She won three events and broke one school and championship record at the NYSCTC Outdoor Championships en route to being named the NYSCTC Outstanding Women's Track Performer of the Meet. Randall won the 1,500-meter run in a school- and championship-record time of 4:29.52. She also won the 800 in 2:13.91 and anchored the Bombers' 4x800 relay team that smoked the competition by more than seven seconds to win the race (9:26.51). Randall won the 800-meter at ECAC Championship (2:11.77) and the Empire 8 Championship (2:15.25).
Nazareth freshman
Taylor Pierson has been bestowed the award for Field Athlete of the Year and was a clear favorite for Rookie of the Year. Pierson became Nazareth's first-ever women's track and field All-American by placing eighth in the long jump competition at the NCAA with a season best leap of 5.73 meters. Pierson won the long jump at the Empire 8 Championship (5.62m) and the NYSCTC Championship (5.42m) and placed sixth at the ECAC’s (5.62m). In addition, the rookie finished fifth in the 100 meter, sixth in the 200 meter and second in the 4x100 relay at the E8 Championships. And at the NYSCTC Championships she placed third in the 100 meter, fourth in the 200 meter and second in the 4x100 relay.
Ithaca’s
Jennifer Potter has been named the Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year. Potter guided the Bombers to two Championship Team titles in 2013. Ithaca claimed its sixth consecutive Empire 8 Indoor Track & Field Championship and fifth straight New York State Collegiate Track Conference Indoor Championship title. The Bombers also placed fourth out of 57 teams at the ECAC Outdoor Championship. The Bombers were ranked consistently throughout the season in the Atlantic Region, including a top ranking in week five and earned a national ranking as high as No. 25 in week seven.