May 21, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: May 21, 2009 - Director and Head Coach of Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan has been named Big Ten Women's Coach of the Year following her squad's second-consecutive Big Ten outdoor title last weekend, announced by conference offices on Wednesday. Senior Emma Schmelzer (Bloomington, Ill.) has been tabbed Co-Field Athlete of the Championship for her integral role in the Nittany Lions' title defense.
"It's an honor to receive this coaching award," said Sullivan. "It is a true reflection of our entire staff. I am fortunate to have amazing assistant coaches that have always had our team poised and ready for conference competition."
Sullivan, who was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2008, led the Nittany Lions to a dramatic title defense, as her team pulled out its second-straight victory by just .25 of a point. The Lions' winning effort was highlighted by a pair of gold medal finishes from sophomore Shavon GReaves (Lakewood, N.J.), who took top honors in the 100- and 200-meters. Turning in quintet of impressive finishes was senior Gayle Hunter (Riverside, Calif.), who finished second in the 200, third in the heptathlon, fifth in the 100-meter hurdles, fifth in the triple jump, and was also a member of the Lions' third-place 4x400-meter relay that clinched the Lions' victory.
"This honor means a lot do to the high caliber of our competitors - especially Michigan and Minnesota," continued Sullivan.
Sullivan's Lions totaled 139 points to edge Michigan with 138.75, also thanks to silver medal efforts from Fawn Dorr (Akron, N.Y.) in the 400-meters and 400-meter hurdles, and a runner-up finish from distance standout Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, along with a bronze-medal finish in the 5000-meters.
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Schmelzer totaled 21 points in the throws, earning her first career conference post season honor. Schmelzer shares the citation with Minnesota's Alicia Rue, who set the Big Ten Championship record in the pole vault. Schmelzer's impressive weekend began with a second-place finish in the hammer, thanks to a PR toss of 179-6 (54.71). The senior followed up with a fourth-place effort in the shot put with a mark of 50-3.50 (15.58) - another career best. Schmelzer capped off her throws trifecta with another silver medal standing, taking second in the discus with an effort of 163-2 (49.74). Schmelzer - an NCAA participant in the discus in 2008 - is an NCAA regional qualifier in all three events.
"Emma's Big Ten performance demonstrates the quality of athlete she has developed into," said Sullivan. "It's great that she was recognized for her accomplishments this weekend."
Also among the award winners were John Mahoney (Richboro, Pa.) and Hunter, who each received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
The Lions continued their postseason charge next weekend at the NCAA Regional Championships on May 29-30. Penn State will travel a grand total of 39 athletes to the Championships in Greensboro, N.C., where the top five finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA Championships, set for June 10-13, in Fayetteville, Ark.
A complete list of individual honors as well as the All-Big Ten teams can be found below:
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Track Athlete of the Year: Hassan Mead, Minnesota
Field Athlete of the Year: Aaron Studt, Minnesota
Track Athlete of the Championships: Hassan Mead, Minnesota
Field Athlete of the Championships: Aaron Studt, Minnesota
Freshman of the Year: Derek Drouin, Indiana
Coach of the Year: Steve Plasencia, Minnesota
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Track Athlete of the Year: Geena Gall, Michigan
Field Athlete of the Year: Kara Patterson, Purdue
Track Athlete of the Championships: Geena Gall, Michigan
Co-Field Athletes of the Championships: Alicia Rue, Minnesota; Emma Schmelzer, Penn State
Freshman of the Year: Terri Anderson, Purdue
Coach of the Year: Beth Alford-Sullivan, Penn State
ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS
Women's First Team
Melissa Bates, Illinois
Angela Bizzarri, Illinois
Deserea Brown, Illinois
Aja Evans, Illinois
Ashley Rhoades, Indiana
Renee White, Iowa
Alisha Cole, Michigan
Geena Gall, Michigan
Tiffany Ofili, Michigan
Casey Taylor, Michigan
Emily Pendleton, Michigan
Shana Vinson, Michigan
Nicole Bush, Michigan State
Megan Duwell, Minnesota
Liz Roehrig, Minnesota
Alicia Rue, Minnesota
Ashley Caldwell, Ohio State
Ayrizanna Favours, Ohio State
Shaniqua McGinnis, Ohio State
Lotoya Sanderson, Ohio State
Shavon GReaves, Penn State
Kara Patterson, Purdue
Stacey Wannemacher, Purdue
Women's Second Team
Ryisha Boyd, Illinois
Latoya Griffith, Illinois
Ashley Kelly, Illinois
Vera Neuenswander, Indiana
Bettie Wade, Michigan
Heather Dorniden, Minnesota
Amy Laskowske, Minnesota
Letecia Wright, Ohio State
Aleesha Barber, Penn State
Caitlin Defusco, Penn State
Fawn Dorr, Penn State
Bridget Franek, Penn State
Gayle Hunter, Penn State
Karlee McQuillen, Penn State
Emma Schmelzer, Penn State
Emily Breslin, Purdue
Chavon Robinson, Wisconsin
Men's First Team
Gakologelwang Masheto, Illinois
Derek Drouin, Indiana
Kiwan Lawson, Indiana
Carl Buchanon, Michigan
Adam Harris Michigan
Lonnie Pugh, Michigan State
Hassan Mead, Minnesota
Aaron Studt, Minnesota
Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State
Matt Comer, Ohio State
Curtis Leuenberger, Ohio State
James Manley, Ohio State
Thomas Murdaugh, Ohio State
Stephen Robinson, Ohio State
Lamaar Thomas, Ohio State
Patrick Woods, Ohio State
Tanner Evak, Penn State
Ryan Foster, Penn State
Clarence Smith, Penn State
Josh Hembrough, Purdue
Ben Harpenau, Purdue
Eric Sparks, Purdue
Ryan Gasper, Wisconsin
Craig Miller, Wisconsin
Men's Second Team
Stanley Azie, Illinois
Dan Jones, Illinois
Yawusa Kinda, Illinois
Gary Miller, Illinois
Andrew Riley, Illinois
Azeez Shogbuyi, Illinois
Cody Wisslead, Illinois
Cedric Hudson, Indiana
De'Sean Turner, Indiana
A.J. Curtis, Iowa
Adam Hairston, Iowa
Dan Harmsen, Michigan
Sean Pruitt, Michigan
Lex Williams, Michigan
Kyron Foster, Michigan State
Matt Fisher, Minnesota
Ibrahim Kabia, Minnesota
R.J. McGinnis, Minnesota
Patrick Whalen, Ohio State
Ben Pax, Purdue
Jack Bolas, Wisconsin
Robert Dehn, Wisconsin
Nate Larkin, Wisconsin