Charleston, S.C. The Citadel Cross Country and Track & Field teams announced their 2007 team awards off the heels of yet another immensely successful season under the direction of veteran coach Jody Huddleston. In Huddleston's 21st year as head coach of The Citadel, the Bulldogs recorded unprecedented success on the women's side while the men posted another successful year.
Below are the team awards given to the athletes from this past season, followed by quick recaps of each team:
Track Awards
Team MVP Tasha Sanders, Jamel Brown
High Point Award (Awarded to the scorer of the most points) Stephanie McNeill, Alex Croskey
Outstanding Track Athlete Alexis Moore, Quintin Wright
Outstanding Field Athlete Stephanie McNeill, Alex Croskey
Most Improved Athlete Monique Edwards, Matt Earls
The Braskie Award (Year's achievements most likely to be mistaken for a tale from the mythical Bill Braskie) Megan Jenkins, Jose Trinidad
Thomas Metzger Award (Awarded to the most dedicated athlete) Natalie Wolin, Mike Terry
Cross Country Awards
Team MVP Amanda Rawl, Matt Holmes
Outstanding Competitor Top Five Women (Natalie Wolin, Sarah Strickland, Laura Hewston, Katheryn Gatewood, Erin Ritter), Will Wilson
Bulldog Award (Awarded for exemplary fierce competition) Veronica Barredo, Charles Kutz
Men's Cross Country
The Citadel men's cross country team finished sixth, their highest posting since 2000. Seniors Matt Holmes, Charles Kutz and Will Wilson capped off their cross country careers in stellar fashion leading the team to the best finish during their four year span at The Citadel.
Women's Cross Country
The Citadel women's cross country finished an all-time high eighth at the Southern Conference Championships in 2006 while freshman Katheryn Gatewood ran a school record time in the team's first race of the year.
Men's Indoor Track & Field
The Citadel men placed fifth in the SoCon Indoor Championships after capturing eight All-Conference honors. The men's team was led by seven seniors at the indoor meet and continued to challenge for SoCon supremacy in several events.
All-Southern Conference Honors: Jamel Brown (4x400m Relay), Bryan Hladik (4x400m Relay), Zach Johnson (DMR), Charles Kutz (DMR), Dan Sagmiller (4x400m Relay), Jonathan Vallejo (4x400m Relay), Jonathan Vallejo (DMR), Will Wilson (DMR); 13 SoCon Finalists Awards captured by The Citadel.
Women's Indoor Track & Field
The women's seventh place finish is a program best for the Bulldogs, having never placed higher than eighth, their finish in 2006. Prior to 2006, the women's team had never placed higher than ninth. Only one athlete graduated from the 2006 team while several freshmen have made an impact in 2007. Stephanie McNeill recorded her second Southern Conference Championship in the meet, taking home the 20lb. weight throw title.
Southern Conference Champions: Stephanie McNeill (20lb. Weight Throw)
All-Southern Conference Honors: Stephanie McNeill (Shot Put), Stephanie McNeill (20lb. Weight Throw), Tasha Sanders (Pentathlon); 11 SoCon Finalists Awards captured by The Citadel.
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
The Citadel men's outdoor track and field team placed fourth at the SoCon Championships behind an incredibly strong performance that witnessed 12 All-Conference honors and 22 SoCon Finalists awarded to The Citadel. Both relay teams brought home All-SoCon honors including the 4x100m relay team anchored by football standout Andre Roberts. The fourth place finish by the men's team marks the seventh time in the past eight years the Bulldog men have finished fourth.
All-Southern Conference Honors: Jamel Brown (110m Hurdles, 2nd), Jamel Brown (400m Hurdles, 3rd), Jamel Brown (4x400m Relay, 3rd), Alex Croskey (Discus, 3rd), Bryan Hladik (4x400m Relay, 3rd), Wesley Merriweather (4x100m Relay, 3rd), Thomas Pressley (4x100m Relay, 3rd), Andre Roberts (4x100m Relay, 3rd), Dan Sagmiller (4x400m Relay, 3rd), Shaquill Smith (High Jump, 3rd), Mike Terry (4x400m Relay, 3rd), Quintin Wright (4x100m Relay, 3rd); 22 SoCon Finalists Awards captured by The Citadel.
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
The Citadel women's outdoor track and field team continued to set the standard, placing an all-time best fifth-place finish. That outpaced the 2006 SoCon Championship meet where The Citadel women finished a then-best sixth after scoring 48 points. The 2007 Bulldogs were led by Tasha Sanders' SoCon Championship in the heptathlon and Stephanie McNeill, who brought home SoCon titles in the hammer and the shot put, as well as being named SoCon Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.
Southern Conference Championships: Stephanie McNeill (hammer), Stephanie McNeill (shot put), Tasha Sanders (heptathlon)
Superlatives: Stephanie McNeill, Southern Conference Field Athlete of the Year
All-Southern Conference Honors: Monique Edwards (Hammer, 3rd), Stephanie McNeill (Hammer, 1st), Tasha Sanders (Heptathlon, 1st); nine SoCon Finalists Awards captured by The Citadel.
