UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State track & field program collected three Mid-Atlantic Region awards announced by the United Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Friday, March 6. Seniors Maddie Holmberg and David Lucas were each named Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year for the women's and men's awards. Assistant coach Fritz Spence was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year.
"It is always exciting when the accomplishments of our student-athletes and the work our coaches put into their craft are recognized by others in our region." Head coach John Gondak said. "Maddie and David have had remarkable success in their events, and we look forward to seeing them compete at the national championship next weekend. It means a lot to me and the program to have Coach Spence honored this year as he has been going through treatments while fighting leukemia this winter season and has been outstanding in working with the student-athletes while managing all he has going on in life."
Maddie Holmberg collects the second Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year award after winning the award in 2019. Holmberg heads to her third NCAA Indoor Championships of her career to compete in the pentathlon. Holmberg won the Big Ten title in the pentathlon with a personal-best score of 4,274 points which places her at No. 3 in the NCAA in the event. Holmberg earned first-team All-America honors in 2018 with her seventh-place finish and second-team All-America plaudits in 2019. Her score of 4,274 points ranks second all-time at Penn State
David Lucas also earns his second Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year award of his career. Lucas earned the honor for the first time in 2018 during his national championship season. Lucas was also named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year in 2018. Lucas earned first-team All-America honors for the second time in 2019. Lucas could become the first Nittany Lion in history to earn three, first-team All-America honors in the weight throw event.
Assistant coach Fritz Spence earns the fifth Assistant Coach of the Year honor of his career. This marks the first time in he has earned women's indoor assistant coach of the year. His previous honors include, 2017 USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year, 2008 USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year, 2008 USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year and 2006 USTFCCCA Mid-East Region Women's Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year.
In 2020, Spence's athletes scored points in the pentathlon, long jump, high jump and triple jump with Maddie Holmberg and Alexa Parks advancing to the NCAA Indoor Championships. Holmberg won the Big Ten title in the pentathlon and ranks No. 3 in the NCAA under the direction of Spence. Alexa Parks set the new program standard in the women's high jump, clearing 6-0 (1.83m) and ranks No. 5 in the NCAA in the event.
The track & field program has collected multiple Athlete of the Year award each season since 2015.
Holmberg and Lucas will be joined by Parks and Danae Rivers at the NCAA Indoor Championships held in Albuquerque, N.M. on March 13-14.