Fisher's Rollins, Stevens' Dello Russo Headline E8 Outdoor Track & Field Honors

6/6/2019 10:44:22 AM

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 2019 Outdoor 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, while Fisher's Kyle Rollins earned Men's Field Athlete of the Year, capping off truly remarkable seasons for the standout student-athletes. 

Five of the six student-athletes that were recognized also earned the honor during the indoor season. Utica's DeAndre Fyffe earned Men's Rookie of the Year as the lone newcomer to be honored. To see the complete list of those that were recognized, please see below. All the awards are selected by the league's head coaches.

CLOSER LOOK
Fisher's Rollins earns the honor having recently won the national title in the high jump. He became the fourth individual national champion in program history after clearing 2.12 meters. Rollins was also named the conference's Rookie of the Year last spring. He and Eddie Mahana, who earned the E8 Track Athlete of the Year, helped lead the Cardinals to a seventh-place finish at this year's National Championships. Their seventh-place showing equalied their mark at the conclusion of the 2018 season and is tied for the best in program history. 

Mahana was a two-time All-American this spring in the 110 and 400-meter hurdles. He missed a national championship by the slimmest of margins - just .001 seconds as he took second overall in the 110-meter race with a time of 14.367. Utica's Fyffe was the top freshman finisher in the discus throw to headline his impressive first year on campus. 

Dello Russo placed third in the 400-meter dash and seventh in the 200-meter dash at the National Championship meet recently to repeat as a two-time All-American. The junior earned the seventh and eighth All-America honors of her career and now holds the second-most All-America accolades in program history. She was also named the Track Athlete of the Meet at the Empire 8 Championships this spring.

Her teammate, Katie Weeks, placed 22nd at the championships in the hammer throw to conclude her distinguished career. She leaves Stevens as a three-time All-American and is the program's record holder in the shot put (indoor and outdoor), discus (outdoor), weight throw (indoor) and hammer throw (outdoor). Weeks earned Field Athlete of the Meet honors at this year's E8 Championships.

Nazareth's Brenna Johnson once again earned E8 Rookie of the Year honors. The talented freshman runner was also recognized during the indoor season. She impressed during the E8 Championship meet this spring. 

The Fisher coaching staff, led by Mike Henchen, earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors on the Men's side, while the Stevens' staff, led by Lance Harden, earned the award on the Women's side. The Fisher men's program finished seventh at the NCAA National Championships, and were led by Rollins' national title in the high jump. Stevens and Harden once again won the honor as they did during the indoor season. The Ducks won the E8 Championship this spring. 

Men's Track Athlete - Eddie Mahana, St. John Fisher 
Women's Track Athlete - Gina Dello Russo, Stevens
Men's Field Athlete - Kyle Rollins, St. John Fisher
Women's Field Athlete - Katie Weeks, Stevens
Men's Rookie of the Year - DeAndre Fyffe, Utica
Women's Rookie of the Year - Brenna Johnson, Nazareth
Men's Coaching Staff of the Year - St. John Fisher, led by Mike Henchen
Women's Coach of the Year - Stevens, led by Lance Harden, Stevens

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR TEAM
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2019 Outdoor Track & 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 sportsmen. 

E8 Men's Sportsman of the Year Team
Sean Waltman, Hartwick
Nathaniel Zedomi, Houghton
Jake Suddaby, Nazareth
Arnoldo (AJ) Burnett, Sage
Ryan DeSautels, St. John Fisher 
Parker Dimock, Stevens  
Nick Proper, Utica 

E8 Women's Sportsman of the Year Team
Hannah Bosman, Hartwick 
Shelby Langlois, Houghton
Gabbie Pighetti, Nazareth
Skylar VanAlstyne, Sage
Clarissa Hensler, St. John Fisher 
Melissa Barnes, Stevens
Brittany Charlonne, 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