March 10, 2011
Buffalo State Athlete and Coaches Earn Regional Honors in Indoor Track and Field
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Wednesday the winners of USTFCCCA Region Athletes and Coaches of the Year honors for the 2011 indoor track and field season in Division III. Buffalo State sophomore Justin Allen, head coach Eugene Lewis and assistant coach Markus Allen were all honored.
Allen was named the Athletic Region men’s track athlete of the year and he is the only male student-athlete entered in both the 55 meters and the 400 meters at the Division III Track and Field Championships this weekend. Earlier this season, he earned State University of New York Athletic Conference Outstanding Male Track Athlete honors after capturing top honors in the 200 meters, the 400 meters, and as a member of Buffalo State’s 4x400-meter relay – all in new SUNYAC meet records – and finishing third in the 55 meters. His 28.5 points scored at the meet helped the Bengals to their first ever conference title in the sport, edging out Geneseo by one point. Allen also earned an Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III title in the 200 meters.
Lewis earned Athletic Region coach of the year honors on both the men’s and women’s side.
Lewis led the Buffalo State men to their first indoor SUNYAC and ECAC championships as well as a national top-ten national ranking. Buffalo State will have four entries into the NCAA Championships and this year the squad has broke the ECAC 4x200 record, three SUNYAC Championship records (200, 400, 4x400), and six school records (200, 400, SP, WT, 4x200, 4x400). His athletes also achieved the best D-III times this season in the 200 and 4x200. The team ended the regular season ranked third in region.
On the women’s side, Lewis guided his team to their third consecutive conference championship. His squad won five of 16 events, finished runner-up in three events, and recorded additional thirds in two events to post 124 points. The Bengal women will send two to the national championships, including the national No. 1 seed Erica Johnson in the 55 meters. Three school records have fallen this season and his athletes also recorded the fastest D-III 4x200 (ECAC record) and third fastest D-III 200 in the country in 2011. The group also was a third-place team at the ECAC D-III meet.
Markus Allen was recognized for his accomplishments as well earning Atlantic Region men’s and women’s assistant coach of the year honors. The fifth-year coach produced four qualifiers in the sprinting events for the men’s NCAA Championships. His sprinters scored 92 points of 136 at the SUNYAC championships and 64 of 77 at the ECAC Championships helping Buffalo State to titles in both meets. Allen’s athletes set an ECAC-Championship record in the 4x200, three SUNYAC championship records and four school records. Allen’s female sprinters scored 91 of the team’s 124 points at SUNYAC Champs and all 50 of team’s points at ECACs. In his fifth year at the program, his athletes recorded the fastest D-III 4x200 of the season that was also a school and ECAC record, the third fastest D-III 200, the top-ranked 55 meters (Erica Johnson), and school records in the 55-meter hurdles and 200 dash.
On the women’s side, Lewis guided his team to their third consecutive conference championship. His squad won five of 16 events, finished runner-up in three events, and recorded additional thirds in two events to post 124 points. The Bengal women will send two to the national championships, including the national No. 1 seed Erica Johnson in the 55 meters. Three school records have fallen this season and his athletes also recorded the fastest D-III 4x200 (ECAC record) and third fastest D-III 200 in the country in 2011. The group also was a third-place team at the ECAC D-III meet.
Markus Allen was recognized for his accomplishments as well earning Atlantic Region men’s and women’s assistant coach of the year honors. The fifth-year coach produced four qualifiers in the sprinting events for the men’s NCAA Championships. His sprinters scored 92 points of 136 at the SUNYAC championships and 64 of 77 at the ECAC Championships helping Buffalo State to titles in both meets. Allen’s athletes set an ECAC-Championship record in the 4x200, three SUNYAC championship records and four school records. Allen’s female sprinters scored 91 of the team’s 124 points at SUNYAC Champs and all 50 of team’s points at ECACs. In his fifth year at the program, his athletes recorded the fastest D-III 4x200 of the season that was also a school and ECAC record, the third fastest D-III 200, the top-ranked 55 meters (Erica Johnson), and school records in the 55-meter hurdles and 200 dash.
