March 12, 2007

Two double winners were among those honored as Athletes of the Meet at the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Marcia Taddy of Wisconsin-Platteville (Women's Track Athlete), Will Leer of Pomona-Pitzer (Men's Track Athlete), Alecia Watson of City College of New York (Women's Field Athlete) and Brandon Houle of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Men's Field Athlete) were honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for their performances at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

Taddy and Watson each won two individual events. Taddy also anchored Wisconsin-Platteville's distance medley to victory in meet-record time. Leer won the men's mile and finished third in the 5,000 meters. Houle won the weight throw and finished second in the shot put.

Taddy, a senior from Two Rivers, Wisc., won the mile (4:49.38) and 800 meters (2:10.04) on Saturday. The night before, she anchored UW-Platteville to victory in the distance medley (11:34.46). Platteville finished fifth in the women's team standings with 30 points. "That just shows how tough she is, mentally and physically," Wisconsin-Platteville coach Jim Nickasch said. "I can't tell you how many other coaches came up and said, 'This is just crazy.' She didn't falter at all during the whole weekend." Leer, a senior from Minnetonka, Minn., set an NCAA Division III Championships meet record in the mile (4:08.19). Leer also finished third in the 5,000 in 14:34.24.

A mathematics major at Pomona-Pitzer, Leer was previously named the 2006 Division III All-Academic Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Watson won the long jump (19-2¼) and triple jump (39-11¼) at the NCAA Championships. The CCNY senior from the Bronx also finished fifth in the 55-meters.

Houle won the 35-pound weight throw at 60-5¼ on Friday and finished second in the shot put (55'6.25'') on Saturday. Houle is a senior from Oshkosh.