By: By Joseph Feldman
Atlantic Sun Championship Highlights
KENNESAW, Ga. – A week after being the class of the field at the Outdoor Atlantic Sun Championships, the Kennesaw State men's track and field team has swept the post-season outdoor awards.
Reagan Beal,
Andre Dorsey and
Jalil Braxton each picked up awards after having stellar performances in their events. Director of Track and Field
Andy Eggerth claimed his third Outdoor A-Sun Coach of the Year award.
Beal won the Most Outstanding Track Athlete after the senior scored more points on the track than any other A-Sun athlete with four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x1 and 4x4 running 46.97 second split.
"What a privilege for Reagan to be recognized this way," Eggerth said. "He transferred in to our program, has worked very hard, and run lifetime bests. I'm a big fan of work ethic. We don't have control of our genetics, but we can control how hard we're going to try, and Reagan is a hard worker so I especially enjoy seeing him earn this award!"
Dorsey was once again named the Most Outstanding Field Athlete after totaling 45 points in six different field events (High Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin Throw, Long Jump, Shot Put, Hammer Throw). He claimed three gold medals and a silver in four of those events. Dorsey also won the Most Valuable Performer for the third straight season after scoring 51 points total at the meet. He will compete at the first round of the NCAA Championship in the triple jump, high jump and long jump.
"I feel somewhat bad for Andre," Eggerth added. "As the awards pile up it starts to become an expectation. Although it's always good to expect excellence, sometimes it starts to be taken for granted and we forget the constant effort and sacrifice that go into it. If you look at how few people can not only stay on top, but continue to improve year after year, you begin to realize how difficult that is. It is a record and feat unto itself for Andre to be A-Sun MVP and Field Athlete of the Year for four consecutive conference championships!"
Braxton claimed two gold medals and a silver in the 400m, 4x4, and 200m, setting lifetime bests in each event to earn the Freshman of the Year honor. He broke the conference and school record with a 47.00 in the 400m, which qualifies him for the first round of the NCAA Championship and US Junior Championships. This is the third year in a row that an Owl has won the Freshman of the Year award.
"Jalil will be the first one to admit that he hasn't had the greatest freshman year compared to what it could have been, but this award is a testament to the abilities he is blessed with," Eggerth said. "I believe this will be a spring board to great thing for Jalil, hopefully starting with another great showing next week at the first round of the NCAA Championship."
Eggerth guided his team to the second highest point total in conference history, 24 medals won, 14 event wins, three conference records and 28 lifetime best performances.
"It's an honor to be named Coach of the Year," Eggerth said. "As I always say the credit really belongs to our staff and athletes for working and working and working and working the way they do! We continue to become a stronger team greater than the sum of our parts which is what is truly special."
Keep up with Owls track and field teams by following KSU on Twitter at
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUTrackFieldXC or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
Facebook.
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