Ithaca Sweeps USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Yearly Awards
NEW ORLEANS – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its yearly
regional awards and the No. 2 Ithaca College women's team swept all four major categories for the Atlantic Region. Junior
Taryn Cordani was named Track Athlete of the Year, senior
Katherine Pitman was voted as the Field Athlete of the Year,
Jennifer Potter received Head Coach of the Year and
Matt Scheffler was chosen as Assistant Coach of the Year.
Cordani is ranked second nationally in the 5,000-meter run with a school record time of 16:58.37, and is sixth in the 3,000-meter run at 9:42.86. She also anchored the distance medley relay team that ranks ninth in Division III with a Glazer Arena record time of 11:52.83.
Pitman owns the national indoor record in the pole vault of 4.25 meters (13 feet, 11.25 inches), which she set at the Empire 8 Conference Championships in mid-February. A week prior to that mark, she established the then-record of 4.22 meters at home. Her current vault of 4.25 meters is second all-time in Division III, only behind 4.27 meters during the outdoor season.
Potter earns her fourth Atlantic Coach of the Year honor, as she previously received this recognition in 2003-04, 2008-09 and 2010-11. She has mentored the Bombers to the No. 2 national ranking heading into this weekend's national championships, and Ithaca has stayed within the top five all year. This season, IC has won the Empire 8, NYSCTC and ECAC titles – all by significant margins.
Scheffler repeats as the Atlantic Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. Along with the dominance of Pitman all season in the pole vault, Scheffler has also overseen the growth of freshman
Beth Cripps, who will also be completing at nationals, as she is seeded 10th with a mark of 3.78 meters (12' 4.75").