Empire 8 Conference Announces Year-End Indoor Track & Field Awards

3/20/2019 3:20:38 PM

A pair of student-athletes from St. John Fisher and two more from Stevens were among those honored as the Empire 8 Conference announced it's 2018-19 Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Year and Sportsman of the Year teams. Stevens' Gina Dello Russo was recognized as the Women's Track Athlete of the Year, capping off a truly remarkable season for the standout student-athlete. 

To see the complete list of those that were recognized, please see below. 

CLOSER LOOK
Dello Russo earned the award for the second straight season as the Stevens harrier earned All-American status in two events and was recognized as a five-time First Team All-Conference selection. She was named the Women's Track Athlete of the Meet after helping lead the Ducks to the E8 team title. Dello Russo finished second in the 400-meter dash and seventh in the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship meet to secure multiple All-America honors for the second straight season.

Dello Russo's teammate, Katie Weeks, was named the Women's Field Athlete of the Year. Weeks took home a pair of titles at the E8 Championship, as she won both the Shot Put and the Weight Throw at the conference's championship meet. She also qualified and competed at the NCAA Championship Meet. 

St. John Fisher's Eddie Mahana and Kyle Rollins were named Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year, respectively by the league's coaches. Mahana won both the 60-meter hurdles and the 400-meter dash at the E8 Championships, while also finishing second in the 200-meter race. Rollins, who was named the E8 Rookie of the Year last year, adds another major award to his collection as he finished second at the NCAA Championships in the High Jump. 

Utica's Marquis Simpson was named the Men's Rookie of the Year, while Nazareth's Brenna Johnson was honored on the women's side. Simpson won the Long Jump title at this year's E8 Meet by nearly a foot and qualified to compete at the NCAA Championship Meet in the event. Johnson was a part of Nazareth's 4x400-meter relay team that won the E8 title. She also finished fifth in both the 60-meter and 400-meter races. 

The Stevens' coaching staff, spearheaded by head coach Lance Harden, earned both Men's and Women's E8 Coaching Staff of the Year awards after leading the Ducks to E8 Indoor Track & Field Championships this winter. 

Men's Track Athlete of the Year - Eddie Mahana, St. John Fisher 
Women's Track Athlete of the Year - Gina Dello Russo, Stevens 
Men's Field Athlete of the Year - Kyle Rollins, St. John Fisher 
Women's Field Athlete of the Year - Katie Weeks, Stevens
Men's Rookie of the Year - Marquis Simpson, Utica
Women's Rookie of the Year - Brenna Johnson, Nazareth
Men's and Women's Coaching Staff of the Year - Lance Harden, Stevens 

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
One member of each program was named that institution's representative on the 2018-19 Indoor Track and Field Sportsman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference 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 sportswomen.

Sportsman of the Year Team - Men's 
Alex Spicer, Alfred
Nate Benjamin, Hartwick
Tyler Deucschle, Houghton
William Lewis, Nazareth 
Ricardo Yolas, St. John Fisher 
Evan Kainer, Stevens
Andy Mucica, Utica

Sportsman of the Year Team - Women's 
Madison Palmer, Alfred 
Anne Baskwill, Hartwick
Edena Sanchez, Houghton 
Sara Thomas - Nazareth 
Clarissa Hensler, St. John Fisher 
Sam Rokicsak, Stevens
Bryanna Mazzella, Utica

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and https://youtu.be/wzL4HcDoUUQ