Liberty League announces 2017 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Awards
2017 Liberty League Men's Outdoor Track & Field Awards
Track Performer of the Year: Ben Fazio, Sr., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior Ben Fazio was selected as the Track Performer of the Year for the outdoor track and field season. Fazio earned All-America honors after finishing a close second in the 5,000-meter race (14:15.63) at the NCAA Division III Championship. It was the first All-America honor in outdoor track for Fazio, who finished just a quarter of a second behind national champion Peter Hale of Williams. Recognized as the Track Performer of the Meet at the Liberty League Championship, Fazio won both the 800 and 1,500 meter races, including a championship record time of 1:53.35 in the 800. He was also a dual winner at the New York State Collegiate Track Conference (NYSCTC) Championship, winning both the 800 and 1,500.
Field Performer of the Year: Michael Pesanello, Sr., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI senior Michael Pesanello was named the Liberty League Field Performer of the Year. Pesanello led a strong contingent of RPI competitors in the field events this spring. His top event was the hammer throw where he recorded three individual victories, including the Liberty League Championship, NYSCTC Championship and Upstate Classic. Pesanello, who earned Liberty League Field Performer of the Week honors once during the outdoor season, also scored points for the Engineers in the discus and shot put at the Liberty League Championship, helping RPI to a ninth consecutive title. He placed fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot put at the league meet.
Co-Rookie of the Year: Terrence Lawrence, Jr., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute first-year performer Terrence Lawrence was selected as the Co-Rookie of the Year. Lawrence was selected as the Rookie of the Meet at the Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship after recording three top-three finishes. Lawrence recorded a victory in the high jump (1.95 meters) while placing third in both the 110-meter hurdles and the 200-meter events. He also added a high jump victory at the Upstate Classic while finishing second at the Tufts Snowflake Classic. Lawrence also recorded a first-place finish in the 100-meter dash at the Capital District Classic.
Co-Rookie of the Year: Jevaughn Sinclair, Fr., St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University freshman Jevaughn Sinclair was selected as the Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year. Sinclair emerged as one of the Liberty League's top sprinters late in the season. Sinclair led all Liberty League competitors with a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash at the New York State Collegiate Track Conference (NYSCTC) Championship with a wind-aided time of 10.93 seconds. He posted a personal-best, non-wind-aided time of 11.06 seconds in the prelims. He recorded a personal best in the 200 at the same event, finishing in 22.20 in the prelims before recording a fifth-place finish in the finals.
Coaching Staff of the Year: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Colin Tory, Head Coach (Assistant Coaches John Lynch, Patrick Weinert, Warren Lutes, Kailyn Balzano, Rick Choppa, Shane Colvin, Joey Correia, Bonnie Deyo, J.C. Kennedy, Bill Quinlisk)
RPI head coach Colin Tory and his coaching staff have been selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for the outdoor season. RPI captured its ninth straight Liberty League title as the Engineers had 12 event champions. RPI also won the New York State Championship meet in addition to the Upstate Classic and Capital Distric Classic meets. Tory and his staff produced two All-Americans in senior Ben Fazio (second in 5,000) and sophomore Grant O'Connor (third in 10,000).