SAINTS DOMINATE LIBERTY LEAGUE TRACK AWARDS

                St. Lawrence University’s outdoor track teams swept the men’s awards and took three out of four in the voting for the women’s awards to complete an outstanding 2007-2008 season.

                Saint coach Mike Howard and his staff were named Coaching Staff of the Year in both the men’s and women’s outdoor seasons, completing a sweep which includes the same designation for the indoor season. Howard is assisted by John Newman, Matt Kuenzel, Melissa DeRan, Bill Lewis, Deb Lyndaker and Erin Woodward.

                Senior Erik Donohoe who capped an outstanding collegiate career by qualifying for the NCAA championships in the 5000 meters was named the men’s outdoor Track Performer of the Year He was the 800 meter champion at Rochester, second in the 1500 meters at both the Liberty League and NYSCTC championships, a member of the NYSCTC champion 4x800 relay and was fourth in the 5000 meters at the Penn Relays. He was a three-time Liberty League Track Performer of the Week. It was his second straight outdoor Performer of the Year Award.

                Senior Nick Perzanoski also won his second straight outdoor Field Performer of the Year award. Perzanoski qualified for the NCAA championships in the decathlon, where he finished 10th. He was both the NYSCTC and ECAC champion in the decathlon, and Liberty League champion in the 400, long jump and 4x100 relay. He was third in the 400 hurdles and long jump at the NYSCTC championships, and was a a three-time Liberty League Field Performer of the Week.

                Dan Ramsey completed the Saint sweep of the athlete awards, following up his indoor Rookie of the Year award with the same honors in the outdoor season. Ramsey was the Liberty League and NYSCTC champion in the 5000 meters, and won the ECAC 10,000 meters in a meet record time, qualifying for the NCAA Championships. He also won the 1500 at two meets during the outdoor season and was Liberty League Rookie of the Week four times in the spring.

                In women’s outdoor track and field, sophomore Alyssa Pirinelli completed a sweep of the indoor and outdoor Field Performer of the Year awards and was named Outdoor Field Performer of the Year for the second straight season. Pirinelli won three of the four weight events at the Liberty League championships, also setting a league record in the shot. She was first in the NYSCTC in the shot and discus and third in the hammer. She placed second in the ECAC in the shot and discus, and earned All America honors with a seventh in the shot in the outdoor championships. She was Liberty League Field Performer of the Week six times in the outdoor season.

                Wendy Pavlus, who was co-indoor Track Performer of the Year, gave the Saints a sweep of the Rookie of the Year awards as she was named outdoor Rookie of the Year. Jessica Venezia won the indoor award for the Saints. Pavlus was Liberty league champion in the 5000 meters and steeplechase with a league record time in the steeple. She set the St. Lawrence records in both the 5000 and steeplechase and was NYSCTC and ECAC champion in the steeple. She earned All America honors with an eighth place finish in the steeplechase at the NCAA championships. She was a three-time Liberty League Performer of the week and Rookie of the Week once.