Spriggs, Fugett finish second at NCAA Indoor National Championships

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Salisbury University junior sprinter Delannie Spriggs became the first-ever Sea Gull to earn back-to-back Indoor Track and Field All-American status after he finished second in the 55-meter dash on Saturday in the 2009 NCAA Division III national championships held at the Rose-Hulman Sports and Recreation Center on the campus of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Junior thrower Brandon Fugett finished second in the shot put event with a toss of 16.86 meters which equals 55 feet, three and three-quarters inches to crush his old school record of 51 feet, 11 and a quarter inches. This is Fugett's first-ever All-American honor. Fugett lost out to Wisconsin La Crosse senior Bobby Riley who made a toss of 17.51 meters which equals 57 feet, five and a half inches. Fugett's record setting toss came on his second attempt.

"The greatest thing you want is your best performances at the national championships," said SU coach Kevin Lucas in his first year at the helm. "I am extremely proud of Delannie and Brandon. They both did an awesome job today."

This is the first time in school history that the Sea Gulls have sent two athletes to the NCAA Division III national indoor track and field championships. Between Spriggs and Fugett the Sea Gulls finished in the Top 10 as a team with 16 points for 10th place. Wisconsin Oshkosh and Wisconsin La Crosse tied with 32 points for first place.

"We are on the map now," said Spriggs of the SU program. "We need to get more guys out here next year. People will be looking out for us now."

Spriggs broke his own school record of 6.32 seconds as he blazed through the finals with a time of 6.30 seconds. He finished second behind Springfield College junior Stephen Headley who set the fastest time in Division III this season with a time of 6.24 seconds. The time is also a new Rose-Hulman Sports and Recreation Center record. Carroll College (Wis.) senior Josh Hurlebaus rounds out the top three with a time of 6.36 seconds.

"We both got out of the blocks at the same time and we were side-by-side," said Spriggs of his race with Headley in the finals. "I stepped out on the third or fourth step and he was still in his drive phase. I wasn't surprised of my finish because I wanted to win it all. It was bitter sweet because I was upset at the end of the race but also really happy of coming in second."

The day before Spriggs won his preliminary heat with a time of 6.32 seconds while Headley won the first heat with a time of 6.28 seconds. In Spriggs' heat was Wesley College football standout Larry Beavers who finished fifth with a time of 6.44 seconds.

Last year, Spriggs finished fourth in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.35 seconds to become SU's first-ever Indoor Track and Field All-American.

"It is a great honor to be All-American in back-to-back years. Hopefully what Brandon and I did here will help motivate the rest of our team during the outdoor season," said Spriggs.

For Fugett this was his first-ever appearance at the NCAA national indoor championships and he made the most of it.

"I'm happy getting second in the shot put but I know I can do better," said Fugett. "I didn't know when I made my toss that it was going to be a record breaking mark. I was quiet and focused and did everything I needed to do."

Lucas added, "It only takes one good throw to become an All-American."

Spriggs and Fugett will now turn their attention to the outdoor season where the Sea Gulls will next travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to participate in the Wake Forest Open from March 20-21.