June 9, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Director of Track and Field and Head Coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as seniors Clarence Smith (Coatesville, Pa.) and Gayle Hunter (Riverside. Calif.) have been honored by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as Sullivan was named Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Head Coach of the Year, and Smith and Hunter were declared Regional Field Athletes of the Year. Sullivan leads a contingent of 13 Nittany Lions into the NCAA Track and Field Championships, beginning on Wednesday.
Sullivan led her Nittany Lion team to its second-straight Big Ten Title last month. In thrilling fashion, the Lions upended Michigan 139-138.75, the closest finish in conference history. Her team has been ranked among the top-15 in the nation for much of 2009. Sullivan, who was named conference Coach of the Year, saw winning performances from Shavon GReaves (100, 200) and runner-up finishes from Karlee McQuillen (javelin), Bridget Franek (steeplechase), Hunter (200m) and Fawn Dorr (400m, 400H). The Lions took second at the NCAA East Regional - also for the 2nd year in a row - highlighted by wins from Franek (steeple, NCAA East Regional record), McQuillen (javelin), and the 4x400. The award marks the 20th occasion Sullivan has been awarded "Coach of the Year" honors.
Hunter, an NCAA automatic qualifier, has more than proved her place as one of the top multi-event athletes in the country in 2009, finishing third in the heptathlon at the Big Ten Championships with a school-record 5730. Hunter scored in five events at the conference meet, including the heptathlon, 200-meters, 100-meter hurdles, triple jump, and 4x400. At the East Regional, Hunter guaranteed herself another event at the NCAA Championships, finishing fourth in the long jump. The senior was also a member of the Lions' winning 4x400 at the regional championships. Hunter has been recognized as the region's top field athlete an impressive total of five times.
Smith will make his second-straight appearance in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, thanks to a third-place finish at the NCAA East Regional. Smith soared to personal-best 53-01.50 (16.19) to earn an automatic bid to nationals. Smith took top honors in the event at the Big Ten Championships, earning his third-career conference title, and also scored a fifth-place finish in the long jump. Smith enters the NCAA Championships with the 10th-best jump in the country.
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