Four Standouts Earn CACC Men's Track & Field Major Awards for 2016
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 23, 2016) -- The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) announced its major award winners for the 2016 men's outdoor track & field season on Monday, as four standouts who had sensational showings at the CACC Championship earlier this month were recognized. The announcement of the award winners was made by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara.
The list included Chestnut Hill College's Giancarlo Martines as Men's Track Athlete of the Year, Georgian Court University's Michael Brazzel as Men's Field Athlete of the Year, Dominican College's Michael Merced as Men's Track Rookie of the Year and GCU's Nathan Gill as Men's Field Rookie of the Year. In addition, Georgian Court Head Coach Mike Murawski was named the BSN Sports Coach of the Year for guiding the Lions to their second-consecutive conference team championship.
The nominating and voting for the major awards was conducted by the league's 10 head coaches in the sport. The league's sports information directors voted for the coach-of-the-year honor.
Martines, who was also named the CACC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year back in the fall, earned his second major award in 2015-16, as he won both the 1500 (4:05) and 5000 meters (16:18), while also placing second in the 800 (1:58.60) at the CACC Championship.
Brazzel is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in the javelin and he demonstrated his amazing skill in the event at the CACC Championship, as he won with an effort of 210-6. He also finished first in the event at two other meets this spring.
Merced won the 400 meters at the conference championship in a time of 49.42, while also earning All-CACC recognition in the 200 with a second-place finish (22.40).
Gill was crowned co-champion of the high jump at the CACCs with a leap of 6-5 1/2. He posted the best marks in the high jump and long jump throughout conference in 2016.
The other award given out on Monday was Nyack College earning the CACC Men's Track & Field Team Sportsmanship Award for demonstrating outstanding character, class and sportsmanship throughout the season.
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Nyack College, Philadelphia University, Post University of Waterbury, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.