Two Sea Gulls named USTFCCCA Athletes of the Year; Jones also honored

METAIRIE, La. – It has been a week of celebration for the Salisbury University men’s track & field team so far – a celebration the team hopes to continue after the NCAA Division III Track & Field National Championships, which will be held May 27-29 in Berea, Ohio.

On Monday afternoon, senior sprinter Delannie Spriggs (Owings, Md.) was presented with Resolutions from both the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate in recognition of his indoor national title in the 55-meter dash. On Tuesday, the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) honored two of his teammates, along with Head Coach Jim Jones, for their outstanding work this outdoor season.

Senior hurdler Cory Beebe (Medina, Ohio) was named the 2010 Division III Outdoor Track & Field Mideast Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year. Senior Brandon Fugett (Randallstown, Md.) was named the 2010 Division III Outdoor Track & Field Mideast Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year, and Jones received the honor of being named the 2010 Division III Outdoor Track and Field Mideast Region Men’s Coach of the Year.

All three athletes now have national titles to their names and will look to add to their trophy cases this weekend. Beebe, who posted one of the top times in Division III history earlier this season in the 400-meter hurdles, will be defending his title this year in the event. He is the top-seeded athlete. He'll also take a stab at the 110-meter hurdles.

Fugett, whose 57’ 10.5” throw at the Penn Relays marks the top distance in all of Division III this year, will also be defending his national title in the shot put. Spriggs will look to capture his first-ever outdoor national title; he'll have two shots at it, as he will be competing in both the 100- and 200-meter dash.

The same trio traveled to the championships last year as one of the smallest contingents competing in the NCAA championships, but they certainly proved that it is quality, not quantity, that counts. They placed fourth overall as a team.

The 2010 Division III Track & Field National Championships, which are hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College, will be the final meet for the three Sea Gull seniors.