SCSU Captures Six Outdoor Track & Field Awards to Cap 2025 Season
Release notes courtesy of USTFCCCA Announcement
Women's Track Athlete of the Year
HANNAH CAIOLA, SCSU
Caiola, who hails from Glastonbury, Connecticut, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 400 meters at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Caiola starred at the NE10 Championships with individual titles in both the 200 meters and 400 meters, and a tote on the winning 4×100 relay.
Men's Field Athlete of the Year
CAMERON BELTON, SCSU
Belton, who hails from Baltic, Connecticut, finished runner-up in the shot put at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships in PR 18.87m (61-11). Earlier in the season, Belton won both the shot and hammer at the NE10 Championships to help lead the Owls to the team title.
Women's Coach of the Year
MELISSA STOLL FUNARO, SCSU
Stoll Funaro, in her 13th year as Head Coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Owls to the team title at the Northeast 10 Conference Championships, winning 11 events and scoring 246 points. Southern Connecticut also had one First-Team All-America at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships – Hannah Caiola in the 400 meters.
Men's Coach of the Year
JOHN WALLIN, SCSU
Wallin, in his 15th year as Head Coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Owls to the team title at the Northeast 10 Conference Championships, winning 10 events. Southern Connecticut also earned one First-Team and two Second-Team All-America honors from the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships.
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
BRIAN NILL, SCSU
Nill, in his 10th year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached the Owls’ middle- and long-distance runners to combined for 76 of the team’s 246 points in winning the team title at the Northeast 10 Conference Championships. Four of his athletes also earned All-New England honors at the NEICAAA Championships.
Men's Assistant of the Year
BERNARDO MBAYA, SCSU
Mbaya, in his first year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached the Owls’ throwers to combined for 49 points at the Northeast 10 Conference Championships, helping Southern Connecticut win the team title. His top athlete, Cameron Belton, won the NE10 shot put and discus and finished second in the shot at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships.
Men's Track Athlete of the Year
JORDANY DELY, New Haven
Dely, who hails from Spring Valley, New York, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. He set a PR 13.77 in the prelims that also bettered his own program record. Earlier in the season, Dely was named NE10 Track MVP of the Championships and NE10 Track Athlete of the Year.
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