Feb. 12, 2008

The USF Cross Country/Track and Field teams hosted their 2007 end of season banquets this past week, where they named their season MVP awards and had the chance to listen to Jon Rankin, one of America's top middle distance runners. Rankin, who was a college All-American while at UCLA in both cross country and track, is currently ranked in the top 50 in the world in the 1500m and will be one of the top competitors in the upcoming Olympic Trials talked to the audience about the importance of goal setting and following your dreams.

Senior Cheyne Inman, who fulfilled his four year dream by becoming the first non Portland runner to win the WCC individual Conference title in 28 years, was named the 2007 Cross Country Men's Athlete of the Year. Along with the individual conference title, Inman also became the first Don to ever earn four WCC First Team Awards.

Senior Jennifer Hartford was named the Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after leading the women to the best team performance in school history where they placed second at the WCC Championships and 12th NCAA Western Regionals. Hartford, who was a two-time WCC First Team Award winner, is also the school record holder in the 10,000m (36:46.01).

Junior Alex Nelson was named the Men's Track MVP after a stellar performance last season where he set the school record in both the 800m (1:53.31) and 1500m (3:52.55). He also led the Dons to the best finish in the Independent Conference Track Championships by scoring six points by placing third in the 1500m.

Graduate student and four year letter winner Renee Stribling was named the Women's Track MVP Award after a strong track season last year where she placed fourth in the 800m and 1500m at the Independent Conference Track Championships, scoring a total of ten points. Stribling is also the school record holder in the 800m (2:14.21) and 1500m (4:31.00) and was named to the ESPN Section VIII All-Academic Team last season for her excellence in the classroom and on the track.

Also honored at the banquet was senior Elizabeth Noey who was presented with the Scholar Athlete Award for her excellence in the classroom where she currently carries a 3.950 GPA while majoring in Chemistry. Other seniors recognized during the evening for their contributions to the Dons programs over the past four years were Jorge Martinez, Jacob Marx, Ryan Courtwright, Lucy Miller and Zita Mezei.