June 4, 2017
USTFCCCA RELEASE
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced Sunday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with Penn State earning four Mid-Atlantic honors.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
The first of four award winners, Isaiah Harris, a sophomore from Lewiston, Maine, is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in the 800-meters with a school record time of 1:45.12. A four-time Big Ten Champion at 800-meters, Harris is also a member of the 4Ã-400-meter relay that clocked the 10th best time in NCAA Division I this season (3:03.48) and also ranks No. 2 in program history. Harris will compete in both events at NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION MEN'S HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR
Third-year head coach John Gondak led the Nittany Lions to their first Big Ten title in program history this season in Happy Valley. Gondak's team finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic region, and depart for Eugene ranked in the NCAA's top-15 with 13 entries into the final site on the men's side and 21 overall. This is the 10th USTFCCCA honor for Gondak since 2009 to go with his three Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION MEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Lucais MacKay, in his first year as an a throws coach at Penn State, led the Nittany Lion throw group to 34-points at the Big Ten meet to help the men's team to their first conference title in program history. The Nittany Lions are second only to Virginia (6) with five entries to Eugene in men's throwing events (Javelin x3, shot put, discus). Under MacKay's guidance, Michael Shuey added to his school record in the javelin with the mark currently at 250'2" (76.25m) heading into the NCAA meet in Eugene.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION WOMEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Fritz Spence, in his 11th year with the Blue & White, coached Madeline Holmberg to a Big Ten leading heptathlon mark of 5,636-points on the season. Additionally, Spence mentored two 40+ foot triple jumpers in Kaitlyn Lopez and Dannielle Gibson, with the latter of the two claiming the Big Ten title with a mark of 45'-1.75" (13.76)w that is the No. 1 mark in program history under all-conditions. Another of Spence's athletes, Megan McCloskey, finished third in the high jump at the Big Ten Championships and produced the No. 2 jump in program history with her clearance of 5'-11.50" (1.82m).
Each of the nine regions honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes, and the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.