Freshman middle-distance runner Jake Waterman and Wabash head track and field coach Clyde Morgan were honored Thursday night as the Great Lakes Region Indoor Track Athlete and Head Coach of the Year by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The awards were presented at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship Banquet in Greencastle, Indiana.
Waterman (left) and Morgan were two of 72 athletes and coaches recognized by the USTFCCCA for their outstanding work during the 2009-2010 indoor season.
Waterman enters the weekend championship meet as the top freshman in the 800-meter run. His season-best time of 1:52.88 is the fourth-fastest in the field. Waterman's most recent victory in the 800-meter event came at the 2010 North Coast Athletic Conference Championship Meet, where he posted a time of 1:54.12.
"I am so pumped for Jake," Morgan said. "This is a tremendous honor for him to be recognized for his hard work in his first college season."
Morgan (right) received the award after lifting Wabash to second at the NCAC Indoor Championship Meet after finishing fifth last season. The Little Giants turned in 14 all-conference efforts in addition to winning four individual championships. Morgan will have three athletes --- Emmanuel Aouad, Kevin McCarthy, and Waterman --- competing at this weekend's national championship meet.
"The coaching award should really go to my staff of Roger Busch, Steve Rogers, Josh Hoeg, Horace Turner, and of course coach emeritus Rob Johnson," Morgan said. "I didn't do this alone. We wouldn't have went from fifth to second if it wasn't for the efforts of each one of those coaches. It should be a staff of the year award. These coaches are the reason for our teams success."
The NCAA Championships begin Friday afternoon at DePauw University and conclude with the finals on Saturday.
Group photo (l-r) - Assistant Track and Field Coach Roger Busch, Emmanuel Aouad, Kevin McCarthy, Jake Waterman, and Head Track and Field Coach at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Banquet Thursday night. Aouad, McCarthy, and Waterman will compete this weekend at the nationals.
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