SUNYAC women's indoor track & field awards released

Posted: Mar 23, 2017

CORTLAND, N.Y.- The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) proudly presents this year's recipients of the Women's Indoor Track & Field Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year. These awards were voted on by the coaches within the conference. This is the first SUNYAC Track and Field Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.

Track Athlete of the Year: Marissa Cossaro, Geneseo

Geneseo's Marissa Cossaro has been voted by the coaches as the 2017 SUNYAC Indoor Track & Field Track Athlete of the Year. The senior distance runner was a dominant force this year in the mile run, 3,000 meter, and 5,000 meter. The East Northport, N.Y. native, claimed SUNYAC's top spot in both the mile and 5,000 at this year's conference championships, resulting in being crowned the 2017 SUNYAC Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet. Cossaro then qualified for the 2017 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championsips, claiming All-America honors after finishing eighth in the 3,000 (9:52.03).

Field Athlete of the Year: Alexa Wandy, Geneseo

Geneseo's Alexa Wandy was selected as the 2017 SUNYAC Indoor Track & Field, Field Athlete of the Year. Wandy put an exclamation point on her historic indoor career, claiming two National Championships in the triple jump and long jump at the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. During the 2017 SUNYAC Indoor Championships, the Lagrangeville, N.Y. native claimed first place in the triple jump and second in the long jump. The senior will continue her career as the 2017 outdoor track and field season gets underway.

Rookie of the Year: Jessica Martin, Brockport

Brockport's Jessica Martin has been voted as the 2017 SUNYAC Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year after a stellar inaguaral season in the conference. The St. James, N.Y. native in her first career meet took home third place competing in the high jump at the Brockport Green vs. Gold Alumni Multi. After that, Martin's performance in the high jump continued to shine. At the SUNYAC Indoor Championships Martin was the conference champion in the high jump, which would ultimately be her highest jump of the season at 1.62m. The freshmen then placed in the top-10 at the ECAC Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship, with a height of 1.56m.

Coach of the Year: Chris Popovici, Geneseo

Geneseo's Head Coach Chris Popovici has been named the 2017 Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year. In his third season at the helm, Geneseo saw great success throughout the season on both the men's and women's side. On the women's side, Popovici and his team earned the top spot at this year's SUNYAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Following the conference championship, the team headed to the 2017 NCAA DIII Indoor Track & Field Championships, ultimately claiming eighth out of 70 teams that placed. Popovici was also named the 2017 SUNYAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.