Jan. 12, 2009

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina track and field program recognized a trio of athletes, the 1994-95 women's track and field and cross country team along with the collection of men's teams from 1926-52 that collected a remarkable 40 Southern Conference championships for their contributions at its Hall of Honor celebration Saturday night at the Carolina Club in Alumni Hall. Crystal Cox, Laura Gerraughty and Vikas Gowda were also honored for their individual performances during and after their time in Chapel Hill.

In addition to the recognition ceremony, the banquet featured the yearly track and field and cross country team awards, given to those athletes who had standout performances in 2008. Brie Felnagle was named the indoor track and field MVP while also garnering team MVP honors during the most recent cross country season. Sophomore LaToya James earned outdoor track and field MVP honors during her All-America season. On the men's side, Charles Cox was named the indoor track and field MVP before All-America Donte Nall garnered outdoor track and field MVP honors. Newcomer Evan Watchempino earned men's cross country MVP team honors.

2008 North Carolina Track and Field Award Winners
2008 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award UNC Women's Track & Field - Callie Pottinger
Callie Pottinger, a junior from Atlanta, Ga., is the 2008 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award winner for women's track and field. Callie scored at the ACC Indoor Championships with a seventh place finish in the 400.

2008 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award UNC Men's Track & Field - John Curtiss
John Curtiss, a sophomore from Matthews, N.C., is the 2008 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award winner for men's track and field. John competed in the 3,000 and DMR during the indoor season and the 800 and 1,500 during the outdoor season.

2007 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award UNC Women's Cross Country - Morgan Stengel
Morgan Stengel, a senior from Nashville, Tenn., is the 2007 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award winner for women's cross country. Morgan competed at the NCAA Championships along with the ACC Championships. She was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and earned both awards for the second time in as many years.

2007 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award UNC Men's Cross Country - Brock Baker
Brock Baker, a senior from Nashville, Tenn., is the 2007 Gene Anderson Student-Athlete Award winner for men's cross country. Brock placed first on the team at the ACC Championships and 30th overall. He was named to the ACC All-Academic Team and was captured the cross country student-athlete award for the second straight season.

2008 Most Valuable Performer UNC Women's Cross Country - Brie Felnagle
Brie Felnagle, a senior from Tacoma, Wash., is the 2008 women's cross country Most Valuable Performer. Brie became just the third woman in school history to earn three straight All-America selections with her 4th place finish at the NCAA Championships. She also earned all-region honors and was named an All-ACC performer.

2008 Most Valuable Performer UNC Men's Cross Country - Evan Watchempino
Evan Watchempino, a sophomore from El Dorado Hills, Calif., is the 2008 men's cross country Most Valuable Performer. Evan was the top performer for the Tar Heels in two races during the season, including at the NCAA Regionals where he earned all-region honors with a 15th place finish.

2008 Freshman of the Year Women's Cross Country - Ashley Verplank
Ashley Verplank, a freshman from Bloomington, Ill., is the 2008 women's cross country Freshman of the Year. Ashley finished the season strong by scoring at both the ACC and Southeast Regional Championships.

2008 Joe Hilton Coaches Award UNC Women's Cross Country - Lauren Holesh
Lauren Holesh, a junior from Raleigh, N.C., is the 2008 Joe Hilton Coaches Award Winners for women's cross country. Lauren earned All-ACC, All-Region and All-America honors during the 2008 season. She placed 30th overall in Terre Haute, Ind. Earning the first All-America recognition of her career

2008 Joe Hilton Coaches Award UNC Men's Cross Country - Brock Baker
Brock Baker, a senior from Nashville, Tenn., is the 2008 Joe Hilton Coaches Award Winner for men's cross country. Brock served as the team captain and led the Tar Heels on their home course in the ACC Championships. He placed 30th overall as he turned in one of the best performances of his career.

2008 MVP UNC Women's Indoor Track & Field - Brie Felnagle
Brie Felnagle, a senior from Tacoma, Wash., is the 2007 Most Valuable Performer for women's indoor track and field. Brie earned All-America honors during the indoor season as she finished second in the 3000. She placed second in the 800 and third in the mile to earn All-ACC honors.

2008 MVP UNC Women's Outdoor Track & Field - LaToya James
LaToya James, a sophomore from Burlington, N.C., is the 2008 Most Valuable Performer for women's outdoor track and field. LaToya earned her first All-America honor with a fourth place finish at the NCAA outdoor championships as a true freshman.

2008 MVP UNC Men's Indoor Track & Field - Charles Cox
Charles Cox, a sophomore from Tinton Falls, N.J., is the 2008 Most Valuable Performer for men's indoor track and field. Charles was an NCAA qualifier in the 400 and earned a pair of All-ACC honors at the ACC indoor championships. He placed second in the 400 and third in the 200.

2008 MVP UNC Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Donte Nall
Donte Nall, a junior from Douglasville, Ga., is the 2008 Most Valuable Performer for men's outdoor track and field. Donte placed fifth in the nation at the NCAA Outdoor Championships earning All-America honors in the high jump. He hit a personal best 7-2 ½ three times during the outdoor season.

2008 Doc Seligman Freshman Field Performer UNC Women's Track & Field - Patience Coleman
Patience Coleman, a sophomore from Durham, N.C., is the 2008 Doc Seligman Freshman Performer of the Year on the women's team. Patience tallied a pair of All-America performances tying for seventh in the high jump during the indoor season and placing ninth during the outdoor schedule. She also captured the ACC outdoor high jump title during her first season in Carolina blue.

2008 Doc Seligman Freshman Field Performer UNC Men's Track & Field - Austin Davis
Austin Davis, a sophomore from Durham, N.C., is the 2008 Doc Seligman Freshman Performer of the Year on the men's team. Austin earned All-America status at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the triple jump with a personal best of 53-3 placing eighth in the nation. He achieved All-ACC status in the triple jump during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

2008 Dale Ranson Coaches Award UNC Women's Track & Field - Tyra Johnson
Tyra Johnson, a graduate from Henderson, N.C., is the 2008 Dale Ranson Coaches Award Winner for women's track and field. Tyra earned a pair of All-ACC honors at the ACC Indoor Championships as she placed third in the 60 and second in the 200. She also scored at the ACC Outdoor Championships with a fifth place finish in the 100.

2008 Dale Ranson Coaches Award UNC Men's Track & Field - Ian Reynolds
Ian Reynolds, a graduate from Skillman, N.J., is the 2008 Dale Ranson Coaches Award Winner for men's track and field. Ian competed in the shot put and weight throw during the indoor season with a pair of 12th place finishes at the ACC Indoor Championships before placing eighth in the shot put and ninth in the javelin during the ACC Outdoor Championships. He was named to the All-ACC Academic Track & Field team along with being named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.

2008 Dick Taylor Freshman Track Performer UNC Women's Track & Field - LaToya James
LaToya James, a sophomore from Burlington, N.C., is the 2008 Dick Taylor Freshman Track Performer of the Year for women's track and field. LaToya placed fourth in the country at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter hurdles en route to earning All-America honors. She scored at the ACC Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles along with the long jump. She also scored in the outdoor 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and the long jump at the ACC Championships.

2008 Dick Taylor Freshman Track Performer UNC Men's Track & Field - Charles Cox
Charles Cox, a sophomore from Tinton Falls, N.J., is the 2008 Dick Taylor Freshman Track Performer of the Year for men's track and field. Charles claimed the 400 title at the ACC Outdoor Championships after earning All-ACC honors in the 200 and 400 during the indoor season. He was also an NCAA qualifier during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.