Beebe, Fugett and Spriggs named USTFCCCA All-Americans
NEW ORLEANS - The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) officially announced its Division III Track and Field All-Americans and three Salisbury University student-athletes were honored.
Juniors Cory Beebe, Brandon Fugett and Delannie Spriggs were all named All-American for their performances at the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Marietta, Ohio, from May 21-23. The three honorees up the men's track and field program total to 16 All-Americans.
Beebe garnered All-American honors for his performance in the 400-meter hurdles, an event which he won and was named national champion. The Medina, Ohio, native ran the fastest 400-meter hurdle time in Division III this season as he crossed the finish line with a time of 51.28 seconds. Beebe's time sets a new SU school record and a Don Drumm Stadium record. Coincidently, the previous stadium record was held by Beebe when he ran for Heidelberg College. Beebe's old stadium record was 53.24 seconds set on May 13, 2006 when Beebe was a freshman. This is Beebe's third All-American honor in this event as he garnered two honors while at Heidelberg.
"That's part of the reason I came out here. I was saying I felt that this was going to be my best chance to come out here and win a national championship, with Coach Lucas. That was a big draw for me," said Beebe, who transferred last year to follow SU coach Kevin Lucas from Heidelberg to Salisbury. "That's been one of my career goals to do, so it was real special to come out here with him, especially since he recruited me."
Fugett was named an All-American for his performance in the men's shot put, which he won and was named a national champion. The Randallstown, Md., native tossed the shot put a Division III best distance of 58 feet and 10 and a quarter inches (17.94 meters). Fugett's throw also set a new SU school record and a Don Drumm Stadium record which was previously held by Mount Union's Justin Archer (55 feet, one inch) set on May 13, 2006. It was a year to remember for Fugett as he was named Capital Athletic Conference Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA Mideast Region Field Athlete of the Year. This is Fugett's second All-American honor as he finished second in the shot put at the 2009 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships back in March.
Spriggs finished second in the 100-meter dash to claim All-American honors for the second time in three years in the event as he did so in 2007. The junior sprinter renewed his budding rivalry with Springfield College junior Stephen Headley. The two met this year in the national indoor championships where Headley won the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.24 seconds ahead of Sprigg's 6.30 seconds second-place mark. On Saturday, Headley finished in the 100-meter finals in first place with a time of 10.51 seconds. This is Spriggs' fourth All-American honor.
The Salisbury trio also accumulated 28 team points to finish fourth overall in the final men's team standings. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the national championship with 46 points to edge out McMurry University (40 points) and University of St. Thomas, who took third.
"It feels great to know even with just us three guys, to bring home a big [NCAA] trophy to the trophy case, a lot of people might not know that it was just three guys, but it's a great feeling and historically it is great."
The future is bright for the SU men's track and field program as the trio is slated to return for their senior seasons next year to anchor a veteran Sea Gull squad.
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