First place performances were turned in by Monmouth sophomores Taryn Phelps and Talitha Vickers (Hempstead, NY). Phelps won the 1,500 meter run with a time of 4:39.23, while Vickers took top honors in the triple jump with a leap of 11.64 m (38’ 2 1/4"). The 4 x 800 meter relay team also placed first with a time of 9:27.34. Hawks head coach Joe Compagni was voted Coach of the Year by his peers.
St. Francis (PA) swept the Outstanding Track and Outstanding Field Performer categories with seniors Katherine Wallace (Coudersport, PA) and Nicole Hollman (Harrisburg, PA) each earning accolades in their respective areas of expertise. Wallace was named Outstanding Track Event Performer after winning both the 3K (10:18.87) and 5K (17:53.94) and finishing third in the 10K (37:47.02). Hollman earned the Outstanding Field Event Performer after shatterring the hammer record by 20’ for a first place throw of 181’ 6" (55.32m).
Other outstanding performances were turned in by Mount St. Mary’s junior Michelle Higginbottom (Frederick, MD), Robert Morris junior Genita Dickey (Huntington, WV) and UMBC’s sophomore Jen Ecker (Ellicott City, MD) and junior Cleopatra Borel (Trinidad & Tobago). Higginbottom placed first in the 200 meters (25.34), second in the 400 meters (57.39) and long jump (5.69 m/18" 8") and third in the 100 high hurdles (14.65). Dickey won both hurdle events, finishing the 100 HH in 14.20 and setting a new NEC record in the 400 intermediate hurdles with a time of 1:00.33. Ecker and Borel also both set new NEC championship records. Ecker won the 10,000 meters in a record setting time of 37:24.58, while Borel won the shot put by establishing a record throw of 45’ 7 1/4" (13.90 m).