Sealand and Palunas take Athlete of the Year
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its 2017 Regional Athletes of the Year on Tuesday. Joshua Sealand (HMC '17) was named Men's Track Athlete of the Year in the west region while Vaiva Palunas (SC '17) was awarded the Women's Field Athlete of the Year in the west region. Head Coach Glenn Stewart was also named the West Region Women's Coach of the Year while assistant coach Bob Ramsey was awarded Women's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Sealand is currently ranked fifth nationally in the 800-meter with a time of 1:49.90. He also has the ninth-best time in the nation in the 1500-meter with a time of 3:49.94. He will compete in both events at the National Championships.
Palunas earned her second Athlete of the Year honors after a standout season where she defended her shot put and discus throw titles at the 2017 SCIAC Championships and adding the hammer title under her resume. Her mark in the discus, 49.31m, is ranked third in the nation while her hammer throw mark of 556.83 puts her in fifth. She will compete in the hammer, discus, and shot put at the National Championships.
Coach Stewart has guided the Athenas to their third straight SCIAC title and saw seven athletes from his team compete in 11 events at the NCAA Championships. The Athenas are currently ranked third in the nation.
Coach Ramsey has played a big role in helping Tyra Abraham (SC '18) compete at the highest level as the junior has not lost all season in the 100-meter against Division III competition. Currently in his second year with the program, Coach Ramsey has 13 athletes in the events he coaches ranked in the top-8 regionally.
By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant
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