Track Performer of the Year: Noah Falasco, Sr., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior Noah Falasco was named the Liberty League Track Performer of the Year. Falasco finished his senior campaign ranked first in Division III in the mile and fifth in the 3,000 meters. In the mile, his top time was 4:08.24, which was also a school and league record time. His best time in the 3,000 meters was 8:18.67. At the Liberty League Championship, he produced a pair of wins in both events as he crossed the finish line in 4:19 in the mile and recorded a time of 8:30.43 in the 3,000 meters.
Field Performer of the Year: Dom Mikula, So., Ithaca College
Ithaca College sophomore Dom Mikula was selected as the Liberty League Field Performer of the Year. This season, he set Ithaca’s record in the pole vault with a leap of 5.00 meters, which tied him for fourth among Division III competition. Mikula also shattered the Liberty League record of 4.93 meters. At the conference championship, he won the event with a jump of 4.92 meters. He finished .10 meters ahead of second place and improved upon a tie for second at the 2019 championship (4.65 meters).
Rookie of the Year: Andy Frank, Ithaca College
Ithaca College first-year Andy Frank was recognized as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. In his first season with the Bombers, he won the 200-meter dash at the 2020 Liberty League Track & Field Championship with a time of 22.37 and he helped Ithaca to a runner-up showing in the 4x400-meter relay (3:25.68). Frank also recorded a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash (50.12) and was sixth in the 60-meter dash (7.20).
Coaching Staff of the Year: Ithaca College – Jim Nichols, Head Coach
Ithaca College head coach Jim Nichols and his staff have been selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. In just the school’s third year with the conference, Nichols guided Ithaca to its third straight Liberty League title. The Bombers trailed by 10 points after the first day of competition but rallied to win by a margin of 38.5 points, thanks to the team’s depth with 19 All-Liberty League honorees (first-, second- or third-place finishers at the championship). Four were crowned champions and three of those four qualified for the NCAA Championships. In addition to Mikula (pole vault), Kasim Cisse (high jump) and Luke Tobia (weight throw) also earned spots in the championship. The Bombers also earned third place at the All-Atlantic Track & Field Championship to close out the 2019-20 season.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM (Event Champions at Liberty League Championship)
60-Hurdles – Daniel Monchek, Ithaca, 8.55
60-Dash – Zaire Wilson, RPI, 7.03
200 – Andy Frank, Ithaca, 22.37
400 – Wells Coalfleet, Rochester, 49.42 (MR)
800 – Dokata Kosi Banchale, Rochester, 1:53.35
3,000 – Noah Falasco, RPI, 8:30.43
5,000 – Joe Domanico, RPI, 14:56.78
Mile – Noah Falasco, RPI, 4:19.00
DMR – Ithaca (Robertson, Wachs, Cook, Whatley), 10:31.96
4x400 Relay – Rochester (Coalfleet, Lundy, Westman, Banchale), 3:20.95 (MR)
Weight Throw – Luke Tobia, Ithaca, 17.83m
Pole Vault – Dom Mikula, Ithaca, 4.92m
Long Jump – Dante Scott, Union, 6.86m
High Jump – Kasim Cisse, Ithaca, 2.01m
Triple Jump – Devante Marshall, RIT, 14.15m
Shot Put – Kevin Danaher, St. Lawrence, 16.11m
Heptathlon – Jack Smith, RIT, 4,695 points
(MR) denotes Liberty League Meet Record