The Empire 8 Athletic Conference has announced the Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for the 2017 men’s outdoor track and field season. The conference coaches vote on the awards.
Track Athlete of the Year: Peter Girardi, St. John Fisher College
St. John Fisher’s Peter Girardi has been awarded the 2017 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Girardi claimed All-America honors in two events at the NCAAs as he finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles with a new Fisher record time of 14.34 and then went on to finish as the national runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 52.00.
The junior took first in the 400-meter dash at the Empire 8 Championships with a meet record time of 47.35 and placed first in the 400-meter hurdles (53.66). He also placed first in the 400-hurdles at the NYSCTC Championships, setting a new Championship meet record (51.59). Girardi was tabbed an Atlantic All-Region honoree in three events this season in the 110-hurdles, 400-hurdles, and 400-dash.
Field Athlete of the Year: Seth Spicer, Alfred University
Alfred’s Seth Spicer has been voted as the 2017 Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. He is the second Saxon to earn the honor since it was established in 2008, joining former recipient Sean Locker (2014). Spicer set the school-record in the decathlon with 6,471 points scored at Kutztown (PA) State University's Mondschein Multi April 13-14. A few weeks later he was named the New York State Collegiate Track Conference (NYSCTC) Field Athlete of the Meet after winning the decathlon with 6,388 points. He qualified for the NCAA Championship and finished 11th out of 20 competitors.
Rookie of the Year: Eddie Mahana, St. John Fisher College
St. John Fisher’s Eddie Mahana has been awarded the 2017 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Rookie of the Year. He is the second Fisher athlete to earn Rookie honors, joining previous honoree Mark VanMarter (2014). Mahana was a force in the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles. At the Empire 8 Outdoor Championship, the freshman took home first place in the 110-meter hurdles (14.86), while also finishing second in the 400-meter hurdles (55.71). Mahana was named an Atlantic All-Region honoree in the 400-meter hurdles by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Coaching Staff of the Year: Utica College
The Utica College staff, led by Head Coach Eric Parker, earned the 2017 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year for the second straight year. The Pioneers won its second consecutive Empire 8 outdoor championship. Seven Pioneer athletes were named first team All-E8, while six earned second team honors. Utica set four E8 meet records during the championship. The Pioneers placed second at the NYSCTC Championship, had two student-athletes earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors, and Nicodemus Gambill qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship and earned All-America honors in the 100 meter dash.
Sportsmanship Team
In addition, one member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2017 Men’s Outdoor 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.
Alfred: Jordan Schools
Houghton: Tyler Deuschle
Ithaca: Larry Cass
Nazareth: Jack Wessel
St. John Fisher: Eddie Mahana
Stevens: Alex Kainer
Utica: Christian St. Amour