FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SCSU's Coward Tabbed Field Athlete of the Year for Third Consecutive Season
MANSFIELD, Mass. - The Northeast-10 Conference announced its 2018 Outdoor Track & Field major award winners this morning. Five different member institutions were represented among the ten winners, with American International leading the way with four student-athletes recognized.
For a complete list of award winners, as voted upon by the league's head coaches, please see below.
AIC's Chad Miller was named the NE10 Men's Track Athlete of the Year as Miller finished second at the NCAA National Championships in the 400 meter hurdles. He took home gold in both the 400 meter dash and 400 meter hurdles at the NE10's this spring. New Haven's Riley Knebes won the award on the women's side. Knebes won the 400 meter hurdles at the NE10's in May, and would go on the finish fifth at the NCAA Championships this spring.
Southern Connecticut's Destiney Coward was honored as the Women's Field Athlete of the Year for the third straight year by the league's head coaches. Coward finished second in the hammer throw at National Championships to earn All-America honors in the event. She also won both the hammer throw and the shot put at the NE10's earlier this season. Merrimack's John Braga was recognized on the men's side. Braga won the Decathlon at the NE10 Championships, and would go on to place eighth at the NCAA Championships in the event.
Begotty Laroche from SCSU was tabbed the NE10 Women's Track Rookie of the Year. Laroche won the 200 meter dash at the NE10 Championships this season, and also finished in the top four in three other events. AIC's Ackeen Colley was named the winner on the men's side as he was a part of three top-five finishes at the NE10 Championships this May and also qualified and competed at the NCAA Championships. Colley placed 10th in the 800 meters with his time of 1:49.48.
AIC's Keyran Steele was honored as the NE10 Men's Field Rookie of the Year, one of four Yellow Jackets to be recognized with awards this season. Steele won the Long Jump at the NE10 Championship Meet with his leap of 7.29 meters. Jessikha Ribeiro, also from AIC, was named the winner on the women's side. Ribeiro, who earned the honor following the completion of the indoor season as well, finished second overall in the Heptathlon at NE10's. She cleared 1.69 meters on the high jump, good for the top mark at the conference championships.
Southern Connecticut's John Wallin and Stonehill's Karen Boen were recognized as the NE10 Outdoor Track & Field Coaches of the Year for the second consecutive year. Both coaches led their respective programs to NE10 Championships at the Conference's Outdoor Championships in May. It's the third straight time Boen has been recognized overall.
2018 NE10 Outdoor Track & Field Awards
Men's Track Athlete of the Year - Chad Miller, AIC
Women's Track Athlete of the Year - Riley Knebes, New Haven
Men's Field Athlete of the Year - John Braga, Merrimack
Women's Field Athlete of the Year - Destiney Coward, Southern Connecticut*^
Men's Track Rookie of the Year - Ackeen Colley, AIC
Women's Track Rookie of the Year - Begotty Laroche, SCSU
Men's Field Rookie of the Year - Keyran Steele, AIC
Women's Field Rookie of the Year - Jessikha Ribeiro, AIC
Men's Coach of the Year - John Wallin, Southern Connecticut^
Women's Coach of the Year - Karen Boen, Stonehill^*
^ - Won award in 2017
* - Won award in 2016
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.
