FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2009
Little East Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Report #5

Track Athlete of the Week
Justin Richardson (Turner, Maine), Junior, University of Southern Maine

Richardson won the 5,000 meters at the LEC/Alliance Championships, crossing the line in 15 minutes, 27.57 seconds. He blew the field away by more than 30 seconds racing in oppressively hot conditions.

Field Athlete of the Week
James Spaulding (Lewiston, Maine), Senior, University of Southern Maine

Spaulding scored valuable points in four events as the Huskies won their second straight Little East outdoor title, and scored in three events to help Southern Maine win its first-ever Alliance title. Spaulding was the conference champion in the shot put with a personal best throw of 14.01 meters (45-11 3/4), placed second in the pole vault clearing a personal best 3.89 meters (12-9), and was third in the discus (36.57 meters/120-0) and javelin (48.20 meters/158-2). In the Alliance scoring, he earned points in the shot (3rd), pole vault (3rd) and the discus (6th).              

Rookie Track Athlete of the Week
Justin Vigeant (Wells, Maine), Freshman, University of Southern Maine

Vigeant played a major part in the Huskies winning their second straight Little East Conference outdoor track and field title, and first-ever New England Alliance Championship. Vigeant won the Little East title in the 200 meters with a time of 21.91, while finishing second in the 100 meters crossing the line in 11.22. He ran the leadoff leg of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays that won conference championships and set school records. The 4x400 relay also won the Alliance title and gave the Huskies the points to edge out Westfield State by 1.5 points for the team championship.

Rookie Field Athlete of the Week
Orion Winkler (Brownfield, Maine), Freshman, University of Southern Maine

Winkler won both the New England Alliance and Little East titles in the pole vault to help Southern Maine win its second straight conference crown and first-ever Alliance crown. He cleared 4.34 meters (14-2 3/4).