Pavlus Named Regional Track Athlete of the Year, Pirinelli 6th in Hammer Throw at NCAAs
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Wally JohnsonWendy Pavlus was named Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year
St. Lawrence University junior Wendy Pavlus has been named the 2010 Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year for women by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Wednesday and Alyssa Pirinelli added to her list of All America finishes on Thursday, placing sixth in the hammer throw.
Pavlus, who will not compete in this weekend's NCAA Division III Championship due to a conflict with a Summer Abroad academic program, has the fastest time in Division III this season in the 10,000 meters and has the fourth fastest time in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She also ranked ninth and recorded a provisional NCAA qualifiying time in the 5000 meters and met the provisional qualifying mark in the 1500 meters.
She is the 2010 Liberty League and New York State Collegiate Track Conference champion in the steeplechase, setting conference records in both meets.
Saint senior Alyssa Pirinelli opened competition at the NCAA Championship in Ohio on Thursday with a best throw of 52.85 meters (173-4) which came on her final throw of the competition. She became an All America in the hammer for the second straight year and earned her third All America finish this season between indoor and outdoor track. She has the best outdoor throw of the year in the shot put. The national champion in the shot indoors, she will compete for her second straight NCAA title in the shot when competition in that event starts Friday at 5 p.m.
Dan Ramsey will represent the Saints in the men's competition and will run in the 10,000 meter championship Thursday evening at 7:40 p.m. He has the eighth best time in the nation this season in that event.