December 15, 2004

Cross Country Award Winners Announced

Morgan Sulzener and David Howard were named The University of Akron's Most Valuable Runners at the annual Cross Country Awards Banquet last Friday.

Sulzener finished the season with recognition as All Ohio, All MAC, and All Great Lakes Region. She was the Zips' number one runner at the Central Collegiate Championships, Notre Dame Invitational, Penn State Invitational, the Great Lakes Regional Championships, and the NCAA Championships.

Howard became just the second Akron male to earn All MAC honors. He was the team's top runner at the Central Collegiate Championships, Notre Dame Invitational, Penn State Invitational, MAC Championships, and Great Lakes Regional Championships.

Seniors Jennie Castle and Adam Bray received the Coaches Award in recognition of their supreme contributions to their team's success both on and off the cross country course.

Castle earned All MAC honors with her 6th-place finish at the MAC Championships. She is also a two-time Academic All MAC honoree. Bray was in the Zips' top five on four occasions this season, including a 14th-place effort at the Central Collegiate Championships.

Beata Rudzinska and Jeff Swartzel won Newcomer of the Year awards. The highlight of Rudzinska's season was finishing third in the MAC Championships. In his first season of running cross country Swartzel best placing among Akron runners was third at the All Ohio Championships.

David Pykare was named the men's Most Improved Runner for the second year in a row.

David Howard & David Pykare