Oregon's Rupp Named West Region Athlete of the Year

Two weekends ago, he won the 5,000m in the West Regional in Eugene.

Photo: goducks.com

SACRAMENTO - In the annual U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association awards banquet Tuesday, University of Oregon junior Galen Rupp was tabbed the West Regional Men's Track Athlete of the Year for his record-setting exploits this season.

The Portland, Ore., native ran the fastest time ever by an American-born collegian in the 10,000 meters to win the Cardinal Invitational in late April (27:33.48) and ranks seventh all-time in the U.S. overall.

Two weekends ago, he won the 5,000m in the West Regional in Eugene, and earlier in May he won the Pac-10 Championships 5,000m and 10,000m to help UO to its third Pac-10 title the last five years and sixth straight top-two finish.

In March, Rupp added his fifth and sixth All-America honors in the NCAA Indoor 3,00m and 5,000m (4th/3rd).

Rupp and his Duck teammates open action Wednesday in the NCAA Outdoor Championships, scheduled for June 6-9 at Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State University.

Live results from the NCAA Championships are available at the www.FlashResults.com website.

More meet information is available at the www.HornetSports.com and www.NCAAsports.com websites.

REGIONAL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

EAST REGION

Men’s Track: Walter Dix, Florida State

Women’s Track: Natasha Hastings, South Carolina

Men’s Field: Adam Montague, North Carolina

Women’s Field: Jenny Dahlgren, Georgia

MIDEAST REGION

Men’s Track: John Yarbrough, Mississippi

Women’s Track: Katie Erdman, Michigan

Men’s Field: Cory Martin, Auburn

Women’s Field: Brittany Riley, Southern Illinois

MIDWEST REGION

Men’s Track: Leonel Manzano, Texas

Women’s Track: Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech

Men’s Field: Scott Sellers, Kansas State

Women’s Field: Elly Rudy, Montana State

WEST REGION

Men’s Track: Galen Rupp, Oregon

Women’s Track: Lindsey Anderson, Weber State

Men’s Field: Jake Arnold, Arizona

Co-Women’s Field: Diana Pickler, Washington State, and Sarah Stevens, Arizona State

REGIONAL HEAD COACHES OF THE YEAR

EAST REGION

Men’s Coach: Bob Bramen, Florida State

Women’s Coach: Dave Ciannelli, Virginia Tech

MIDEAST REGION

Men’s Coach: Ron Mann, Louisville

Women’s Coach: Dennis Shaver, LSU

MIDWEST REGION

Men’s Coach: Martin Smith, Oklahoma

Women’s Coach: Pat Henry, Texas A&M

WEST REGION

Men’s Coach: Ron Allice, USC

Women’s Coach: Greg Kraft, Arizona State

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