May 22, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - On the eve of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named the 2008 USTFCCCA National Outdoor Track and Field Athletes and Coaches of the Year. Eight individuals were selected amongst their peers for their successes in 2008.

The eight individuals honored at the banquet were Women's Track Athlete of the Year, Rachel Anderson, Women's Field Athlete of the Year, Amy Reed, Women's Head Coach of the Year, Patrick Zarate, Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, Marc Mangiacotti, Men's Track Athlete of the Year, Peter Kosgei, Men's Field Athlete of the Year, Kyle Steiner, Men's Head Coach of the Year, Paul Olsen, and Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, Marchan Adkins.

The 2008 USTFCCCA Division III National Outdoor Track and Field Athletes and Coaches of the Year:

	Rachel Anderson - Senior - Illinois Wesleyan University With victories in the 200 and 400 meters as well as both relays, Anderson was named the outstanding female performer at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Championships. Anderson has the nation's top times (24.14 and 55.62) heading into the NCAA Championships. She is a senior from Clinton, Ill.
	Amy Reed - Senior - Messiah College At the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, Reed won the heptathlon with a nation-leading score of 4,689 points. She also won the long jump and javelin, placed third in the shot put and tied for third in the high jump. The heptathlon runner-up at last year's NCAA outdoor meet, Reed also has the nation's third longest throw in the javelin (146-4) this season. She is a senior from Wenatchee, Wash.
	Patrick Zarate - Texas Lutheran University Texas Lutheran qualified 12 athletes in eight events for this week's NCAA Championships in Oshkosh, Wisc. The Bulldogs finished second at the American Southwest Conference meet. Zarate is in his second season as head coach.
	Marc Mangiacotti - Wheaton (Mass.) College Mangiacotti's sprinters and hurdlers shined this spring. Chizoba Ezeigwe qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100, 200 and 4 x 400 relay, and Renee Thompson qualified in the 400 meters. Wheaton has the second-fastest time in the nation in the 4 x 400 relay (3:47.27Z). Mangiacotti is in his fourth season as an assistant under head coach Paul Souza.

	Peter Kosgei - Sophomore - Hamilton College Kosegei won the 800 and 1,500 meters at the New England Small College Athletic Conference meet and will compete in the steeplechase and 5,000 meters at the NCAA Championships. His 8:43.78 best in the steeplechase leads the field by more than 20 seconds. Kosgei is a sophomore from Kapsabet, Kenya.
	Kyle Steiner - Senior - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Steiner won his second straight decathlon title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. His best score of 6,637 points ranks him sixth entering this week's NCAA outdoor meet. Steiner is a senior from Grafton, Wisc.
	Paul Olsen - Augustana (Ill.) College Olsen's 40th season as head track coach was one of his most satisfying as Augustana won its first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin men's championship since 1984. Eight of his men qualified for the NCAA Championships, including national leader Ted McMillan in the 400 hurdles.
	Marchan Adkins - Illinois Wesleyan University As the assistant coach overseeing the sprints, Adkins-coached athletes won College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin titles in the 100, 200, 400 and both relays. Segun Olopo qualified for the NCAA Championships in 100 and 200 meters, as did teammate Matthew Harden in the 200. Illinois Wesleyan also qualified for the national meet in both relays.