FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 7, 2008
LADY VOL MEDIA RELATIONS: Eric Trainer, Asst. Director (865-974-8173/etrainer@utk.edu)
2007 SEASONS CELEBRATED AT LADY VOL CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD BANQUET
Bowman Sweeps Track & Field, Cross Country MVP Honors; Dickenson Snags Four Awards
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee women s track & field and cross country teams celebrated their 2007 seasons Monday night in the Courtside Club at Thompson-Boling Arena. The awards were given to athletes for their performances during last spring s track & field season and this fall s cross country campaign.
Sarah Bowman, who claimed SEC Indoor titles in the mile and 3000 meters and anchored the distance medley relay to victory as UT won the team trophy her sophomore season, captured the Lady Vol Track Most Valuable Performer (MVP) award, as voted by her peers. She earned All-America honors indoors in the mile and DMR, and outdoors in the 1500m. The Warrenton, Va., native also was chosen Cross Country MVP after leading Tennessee to the finish line in five out of six races and picking up All-SEC and NCAA All-South Region acclaim along the way in 2007.
Shanna Dickenson s highly-successful junior season netted her four awards. The All-American discus thrower and school hammer throw record-holder from Cincinnati, Ohio, walked away with both the Indoor and Outdoor Field Events MVP honors, the Lady Vol Spirit Award and the Ilrey Oliver Sparks Memorial Competitive Spirit Award.
Lynne Layne s rookie season earned her three awards. The product of New Rochelle, N.Y., picked up Outdoor Track MVP kudos and both Indoor and Outdoor Track Freshman of the Year honors. She earned All-America accolades last season with UT s 4x100m relay and claimed 100m dash titles at the USATF Junior Championships and the Pan Am Junior Championships. She also anchored the U.S. to gold in the 4x100m relay at Pan Am Juniors.
Record-setting All-America sprinter Courtney Champion (Lawrenceville, Ga.) was recognized as Indoor Track MVP after a junior season where she set Lady Vol records in the 60m and 200m dashes. Champion finished second and third, respectively, in those events at both the SEC and NCAA Indoor Championships, earning All-America acclaim for each.
Most Improved Awards went to Katie Van Horn (Glendora, N.J.) for her tremendous strides indoors in track & field as a sophomore and for her efforts this fall as a junior in cross country. Freshman Phoebe Wright (Chattanooga, Tenn.) grabbed the Outdoor Track Most Improved Award. Brittany Sheffey (Bellport, N.Y.) collected Cross Country Freshman of the Year kudos for her performance this fall on the trails.
Elsewhere, Wright grabbed the Scholar-Athlete Award, while senior Felicia Guliford and junior LaTonya Loche shared distinction for the Community Service Award and junior Amara McKell claimed the Coaches Award. Also recognized were All-Americans, SEC champions, All-SEC cross country honorees and SEC Academic Honor Roll members.
2007 LADY VOL CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD AWARDS
Lady Vol MVP: Sarah Bowman
MVP - Indoor Track: Courtney Champion
MVP - Indoor Field Events: Shanna Dickenson
MVP - Outdoor Track: Lynne Layne
MVP - Outdoor Field Events: Shanna Dickenson
MVP - Cross Country: Sarah Bowman
Ilrey Oliver Sparks Memorial Competitive Award: Shanna Dickenson
Freshman of the Year - Indoor Track & Field: Lynne Layne
Freshman of the Year - Outdoor Track & Field: Lynne Layne
Freshman of the Year - Cross Country: Brittany Sheffey
Most Improved - Indoor Track & Field: Katie Van Horn
Most Improved - Outdoor Track & Field: Phoebe Wright
Most Improved - Cross Country: Katie Van Horn
Coaches Award: Amara McKell
Lady Vol Spirit Award: Shanna Dickenson
Scholar Athlete Of The Year: Phoebe Wright
Community Service Award: Felicia Guliford, LaTonya Loche
Academic All-SEC: Sarah Bowman, Courtney Champion, Alicia Essex, Katie Flaute, Felicia Guliford, Kimarra McDonald, Leah Soro, Cleo Tyson, Katie Van Horn, Phoebe Wright
Track & Field All-Americans: Nia Ali, Sarah Bowman, Courtney Champion, Shanna Dickenson, Rose-Anne Galligan, Celriece Law, Lynne Layne, LaTonya Loche, Leslie Treherne, Cleo Tyson
Track & Field SEC Champions: Nia Ali, Sarah Bowman, Rose-Anne Galligan, Kimarra McDonald, Phoebe Wright
Cross Country All-SEC: Sarah Bowman, Heidi Magill-Dahl, Katie Van Horn
2008 Senior Recognition Awards: Courtney Champion, Shanna Dickenson, LaTonya Loche, Amara McKell, Cleo Tyson