The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for the 2016-17 men’s indoor track and field season. The conference coaches vote on the awards.
Utica College junior
Nicodemus Gambill has been voted the Track Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Gambill earned All-American status at the NCAA Championships in the men's 60 meter dash as he posted a time of 6.855 in the finals to earn fourth place. He also earned All-American in the 200-meter dash as he placed seventh in the finals with a time of 22.12. Gambill advanced to the NCAA finals after impressive performances in the prelims. He placed third overall (second in his heat) in the 60 meter dash prelims and broke his own school-record with a time of 6.82. He followed that up with an eighth place overall finish (second in his heat) in the 200 meter dash prelims with a time of 22.08.
He successfully defended his titles at the Empire 8 championship for the second straight year. Gambill broke his own E8 Championship meet record and won the 60 meter dash with a time of 6.88. He also broke 22 seconds in the 200 meter dash as he set a facility and meet record with a 21.99 to earn his third consecutive indoor title in the event.
At the NYSCTC Championship he repeated as the individual champion in the men's 60 meter dash final with a time of 6.97 and he also added a victory in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.14.
Gambill posted his second straight ECAC title in the men's 60 meter dash as he recorded a time of 6.88 and he teamed up to break a school-record (3:24.95) and earn a fourth place finish in the 4x400 meter race.
Alfred University junior
Seth Spicer has been tabbed the Field Athlete of the Year. He is the second Saxon to earn the honor since it was established in 2007-08, joining former recipient Ryan Squilacioti.
Spicer finished fourth in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship meet, with a school-record 4,969 points. His fourth-place finish earned him All-America designation, marking the first track and field All-American at Alfred since 1995. His 4,969 points broke his own school record of 4,859 points, when he won the NYSCTC Championship.
Spicer’s NCAA heptathlon performance included the 60-meter dash (personal-best 7.41 seconds); the long jump (6.32 meters); the shot put (13.03 meters, personal best); and the high jump (1.84 meters, personal best) on the first day. On the second day he competed in the 60-meter hurdles (8.66 seconds, personal best); pole vault (3.90 meters); and 1,000-meter run (2:41.92, personal best).
Utica’s
Clarence Skipper has been granted the award for Rookie of the Year. He earned eighth place in the triple jump at the NCAA Championship with a distance of 14.21 meters to garner All-American status. He punched his ticket to the NCAA’s with a school-record distance of 14.46 meters at the ECAC Championship. Throughout the season Skipper also competed in the long jump and high jump. His best long jump mark was 6.41 meters and he had a season best height of 1.88 meters to finish as the runner-up at the E8 Championship. Skipper is the first Utica athlete to earn the E8 Rookie honor.
The
Ithaca staff, led by Head Coach Jim Nichols, earned the Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year. The Bombers won the E8 Indoor Championship for the second straight year and ninth time overall. Ithaca also enjoyed a second place finish at the NYSCTC and third place finish at ECAC’s. The coaching staff guided three athletes to USTFCCCA all-region honors and had five individual and two relays earn E8 all-conference recognition.
In addition, one member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2016-17 Men’s Indoor Track and Field Sportsman of the Year Team. Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete’s experience in conjunction with an institution’s educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
Sportsmanship Team
Alfred: Sammy Davis Jr.
Houghton: Tyler Deuschle
Ithaca: Larry Cass
Nazareth: Nick LaBarbera
St. John Fisher: Peter Girardi
Stevens: Zach Andres
Utica: Sam Bonk