SUNYAC announces women's outdoor track and field top honors
CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2018 women's outdoor track and field annual awards. The awards include Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie, and Coach of the Year, and were voted on by conference coaches.
Track Athlete of the Year - Stephanie Boucher, Plattsburgh
Boucher had a tremendous senior campain, earning All-America honors for her performance in the 800 meter run at the 2018 NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. With a time of 2:11.58, she finished eighth in the country, earning her third All-America recognition of her career. She also holds both a program record and SUNYAC record in the 800 meter with a time of 2:08.22. Boucher took first place in the 800 meter run at the 2018 SUNYAC Championships with a time of 2:10.42, and helped her relay to a second place in the 4x400 with a time of 3:58.67. The relay also took third at the All-Atlantic Region Outdoor Track and Field Conference Championships with a time of 3:53.51 - a season best and second fastest time in school history. For this performance, Boucher earned USTFCCCA 2018 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field All-Region honors along with her relay team. Boucher ended her senior season with three All-America distinctions and a program and conference record in the 800 meter.
Field Athlete of the Year - Victoire Kothor, Brockport
Coming off of a stellar indoor season where she placed first in the nation in the shot put at the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships, Kothor continued her success through the spring. At the 2018 SUNYAC outdoor championships, she placed first in the hammer throw on her first attempt with a distance of 53.80 meters. She also took home first place in the discus throw with a distance of 42.97 meters. Her performances earned her 2018 SUNYAC Outdoor Most Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet honors. Kothor kept it rolling into the postseason by taking first place in the hammer throw, with a toss of 52.79 meters at the 2018 All-Atlantic Region outdoor track and field conference championships. Her dominant season earned her a spot on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Atlantic Regional team in discus, hammer, and shotput. At the 2018 NCAA outdoor track and field championships, Kothor capped off her senior campaign with a first place finish in the shot put with a distance of 15.88 meters, and a 12th place finish in the hammer throw with a distance of 52.12 meters. Her first-place shot put performance earned her All-America honors to end her senior season.
Rookie of the Year - Emily Lavarnway, Geneseo
Lavarnway set the tone for her college career with an outstanding freshman season. In her first outdoor meet of the season, she ran the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 15.42 - the fifth best time in program history. At the Cortland Classic Invitational, she set the record for the second best heptathalon performance in school history, as well as the 13th best in NCAA Division III this season with a total of 4,390 points. At the 2018 SUNYAC Championships, Lavarnway took first place in the heptathalon with a total of 4,532 points, which contributed to a team first-place victory. Her outstanding season earned her a spot on the 2018 USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Regional team in only her first season with the Knights. At the 2018 Division III outdoor track and field championships, Lavarnway earned a third place finish in the heptathalon with a career-best total of 4,663 points, earning her All-America recognition.
Coach of the Year - Chris Popovici, Geneseo
Geneseo Knights Head Coach Chris Popovici led the women's outdoor track and field team to their second consecutive SUNYAC title - their 11th in program history. The team scored a total of 296.5 points - over 100 points more than the second place team. An impressive 13 members of the women's track and field team earned USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region honors as Popovici was voted Women's Track and Field Coach of the Year. Under Popovici, three Knights also earned All-America recognition, two in the heptathalon and one in the long jump. In addition, the Knights also earned an 11th and 14th place finish in the 5000 meter final. This marks Popovici's second SUNYAC Coach of the Year honor this season, and his fourth of the year, having won Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field, and Men's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year as well.
