Embrace The Victory: NE10 Announces Indoor Track & Field Major Awards

Embrace The Victory: NE10 Announces Indoor Track & Field Major Awards

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 


National Champion Coward's Third Straight 'Of the Year' Honor Headlines NE10 Major Awards

MANSFIELD, Mass. - The Northeast-10 Conference announced its Indoor Track & Field major individual award winners today. This year's award winners represent five different NE10 member institutions with American International and Southern Connecticut leading the way with three apiece.

For a complete list of the award winners, as voted upon by the league's head coaches, please see below. Three of this winter's award winners were also tabbed for the honor during the 2016-17 NE10 Indoor Track & Field Season. Southern Connecticut's Destiney Coward was named the Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive season.

Merrimack's Michaela Pernell was selected as the NE10 Women's Track Athlete of the Year after an outstanding campaign for the Warriors. Pernell was recently honored as a dual All-American in both the 60-meter and the 200-meter and she competed in both events at the NCAA National Championships recently. The junior won both events at the NE10 Championships in February.

American International's Leakey Kipkosgei, pictured, garnered Men's Track Athlete of the Year as he won four NE10 titles this indoor season: the mile, the 3,000 meters, and as a part of two winning relay teams (Distance Medley Relay and 4x800). Kipkosgei, who also won the NE10 Championship in Cross Country this fall, qualified and competed in three events at the NCAA Championships - more than any other NE10 student-athlete.

Southern Connecticut's Destiney Coward, pictured, was tabbed as the Women's Field Athlete of the Year for the third-straight season by the league's coaches. Coward won the National Championship in the Weight Throw in March with her throw of 20.79 meters. She also took the top spot at the NE10 Championships that were recently held.

Southern Connecticut's Turner Kelly earned the award on the men's side. Kelly took home the gold in both the Weight Throw and the Shot Put at this year's NE10 Indoor Track & Field Championships to help the Owls win the NE10 title.

American International's Yasmine Graziani earned the nod as the NE10 Women's Track Rookie of the Year, while Adelphi's Felipe Custodio was tabbed as the Men's Track Rookie of the Year.

Graziani won the 800-meter event at NE10's in February with her time of 2:14.16. She was also a part of the Yellow Jackets' 4x800 and Distance Medley Relay teams that finished second. Custodio, meanwhile, took the top spot in both the 200-meter and the 400-meter. The three-time NE10 Rookie of the Week honoree also qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships in the 400-meter dash.

American International's Jessikha Ribeiro earned the Women's Field Rookie of the Year, while Stonehill's Xavier Young was tabbed for the award on the men's side.

Ribeiro had a very impressive indoor campaign, which featured her qualifying to compete in two events at the NCAA Championships - the Pentathlon and the High Jump. Young, who is also a member of the football team at Stonehill, finished second in the Shot Put at the NE10 Championship.

Stonehill's Karen Boen and Southern Connecticut's John Wallin were recognized as the NE10 Indoor Track & Field Coaches of the Year. Boen was selected by her peers for the third straight year, while Walline earns the recognition for the second straight season. Both coaches led their respective programs to NE10 Championships at the NE10 Indoor Championships in February.

 

2017-18 NE10 Indoor Track & Field Awards
Men's Track Athlete of the Year
 - Leakey Kipkosgei, American International
Women's Track Athlete of the Year - Michaela Pernell, Merrimack

Men's Field Athlete of the Year - Turner Kelly, Southern Connecticut
Women's Field Athlete of the Year - Destiney Coward, Southern Connecticut^*

Men's Rookie Track Athlete of the Year - Felipe Custodio, Adelphi
Women's Rookie Track Athlete of the Year - Yasmine Graziani, American International

Men's Rookie Field Athlete of the Year - Xavier Young, Stonehill
Women's Rookie Field Athlete of the Year - Jessikha Ribeiro, American International

Men's Coach of the Year - John Wallin, Southern Connecticut*
Women's Coach of the Year - Karen Boen, Stonehill^*

^ - won the award during the 2015-16 Indoor Season
* - won the award during the 2016-17 Indoor Season

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete. 

Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.