Track and Field Announces Team Awards
7/22/2022 11:45:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Mountain Hawks celebrated the end of another successful season by presenting their annual team awards. The women's track and field team won three Patriot League titles, one ECAC title and broke nine school records during both the indoor and outdoor seasons while the men's track and field team won three Patriot League titles and one IC4A title and broke eight school records during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Recent graduates Kyle Burke and Teasha McKoy were named MVP for the men's and women's teams, respectively. The award is given to the athletes who make the most outstanding athletic contributions to the accomplishments of the teams.
Burke had a sensational senior year for the Mountain Hawks. The Clarks Summit, Pa. native broke seven school records, won three Patriot League titles and one IC4A title. During the indoor season, Burke was a member of the first-place DMR and went on to win the 800m at the Patriot League Championships to claim his fourth school record of the year. He showed no signs of slowing down during the outdoor season as he went on to break school records in the 800m (1:48.45), 1500m (3:44.57) and 4x800 relay (7:26.80). At the outdoor Patriot League Championship, Burke won his second 800m title with a time of 1:52.59. He qualified for the NCAA prelims where he finished 21st overall in the 800m.
"I think it's great that we can honor Kyle as an MVP," said men's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Todd Etters. "His performances this year were certainly hall of fame worthy. I think what stood out about Kyle is that he had the same consistent approach about running that he's had since he was a first-year so it was nice that he was able to put up such high level performances because of that."
McKoy wrapped up her final year at Lehigh with some incredible performances. The Philadelphia, Pa. native broke three school records this year, including a facility record at the OceanFirst Bank Center in the weight throw. She finished fourth overall in the discus (42.63m) and 11th in both the shot put (11.96m) and hammer throw (44.87m) at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships. McKoy finished her Lehigh career at the ECAC Championships where she not only broke her third school record of the year but she also earned All-East honors in the shot put and discus.
"Teasha is a hard worker and competitor," throws coach Allison Taub said. "She does everything you ask of her and always gives 100 percent. She is the definition of a true leader and one many on the team look up to. Her success of breaking 3 school records this year comes from her passion and commitment to the sport day in and day out."
The Coaches Award was presented to Veronica Meyer and Harrison Ernst, two recent graduates for the Mountain Hawks. The award is presented to student-athletes who made a significant contribution to the team's well-being in terms of attitude, improvement or special leadership.
Meyer has been a key leader in Lehigh's throws group throughout her time in Bethlehem. During the indoor season, Meyer put up solid marks in both the shot put and weight throw. At the indoor Patriot League Championships, she finished 11th in the weight throw with a personal best of 15.86m. In her final Patriot League Championship, she finished eighth overall in the javelin (38.59m), tenth in the hammer throw (46.20m) and 13th in the discus (35.58m).
"Veronica really stepped up as a leader for us this past season," said Taub. "She is very coachable and takes ques and applies them quickly. Her hard work never went unnoticed and her team first mentality is something we look for in all of our athletes."
In his final year at Lehigh, Ernst stepped up as a leader for not only the sprinters, but for the entire Lehigh track and field team. The Garden City, NY. native put up solid times throughout both the indoor and outdoor seasons. At the indoor Lafayette Dual, Ernst won both the 400m (51.84) and 4x400 (3:31.84) to help the Mountain Hawks defeat the Leopards 122-59. To wrap up his career at Lehigh, Ernst finished sixth overall in the 400m (50.58) and third in the 4x400 (3:19.64) at the outdoor Patriot League Championship.
"Harry's career at Lehigh is best described in one word: unexpected," sprints coach Khayla Atte said. "Harry is a boisterous and hard-working individual who started his collegiate career at the back of the pack. Harry is highly coachable, motivating, and independent. Harry's commitment to reaching his goals, and encouraging his teammates, illustrates what it means to believe in the process."
Michael Nardelli and Hetty McMillan were named Scholar Athletes, which is given to the student-athletes who exemplify the ideal of being a scholar athlete. Nardelli graduated with a 3.92 in Chemical Engineering while McMillan, who also graduated in May, earned a 3.96 in Psychology.
Throughout his time at Lehigh, Nardelli was able to find success in both the classroom and on the track. During the indoor season, he earned a second-place finish in the 60m hurdles at the Lafayette Dual (8.47) and went on to finish tenth overall in the 60m hurdles at the indoor Patriot League Championship (8.40). In his final outdoor season as a Mountain Hawk, Nardelli competed in the Carol & John Covert Classic where he finished second in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.20. At the outdoor Patriot League Championships, he finished sixth in the 4x100 (44.70) and tenth in the 110m hurdles (15.43).
"Mike achieved at all levels throughout his career at Lehigh," said assistant coach Brooke Astor. "He made it to the podium in the hurdles, he was integral in our team's leadership, and he excelled in the classroom. Mike is an example to our young athletes that you can be successful on and off the track. I am confident that our team will continue to be successful academically and athletically because Mike and his peers have set a great standard for them to follow."
While McMillan excelled in the classroom, she continued to excel on the track. At the indoor Patriot League championship, she was a member of the winning 4x800 that set a new facility record at Gerhard Fieldhouse in Lewisburg, Pa. McMillan continued to put up solid times on the track during the outdoor season as she wrapped up her career at Lehigh. At the outdoor Patriot League Championships, she won her second gold medal of the year in the 4x800 (8:50.21) and finished third in the 800m (2:11.96). McMillan ended her career at the ECAC Championships where she earned All East honors in her seventh-place finish in the 4x400 (3:54.31).
"There have been many wonderful things written about Hetty and how she was able to persevere through suffocating personal adversity and a severe, random injury early in her career," said women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Deb Utesch. "Throughout her four years, her academic commitment never waivered. She matured as a teammate. She was able to shine as a performer on the track. She found balance and as a result developed into our scholar- athlete award winner."
Recent graduates Kyle Burke and Teasha McKoy were named MVP for the men's and women's teams, respectively. The award is given to the athletes who make the most outstanding athletic contributions to the accomplishments of the teams.
Burke had a sensational senior year for the Mountain Hawks. The Clarks Summit, Pa. native broke seven school records, won three Patriot League titles and one IC4A title. During the indoor season, Burke was a member of the first-place DMR and went on to win the 800m at the Patriot League Championships to claim his fourth school record of the year. He showed no signs of slowing down during the outdoor season as he went on to break school records in the 800m (1:48.45), 1500m (3:44.57) and 4x800 relay (7:26.80). At the outdoor Patriot League Championship, Burke won his second 800m title with a time of 1:52.59. He qualified for the NCAA prelims where he finished 21st overall in the 800m.
"I think it's great that we can honor Kyle as an MVP," said men's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Todd Etters. "His performances this year were certainly hall of fame worthy. I think what stood out about Kyle is that he had the same consistent approach about running that he's had since he was a first-year so it was nice that he was able to put up such high level performances because of that."
McKoy wrapped up her final year at Lehigh with some incredible performances. The Philadelphia, Pa. native broke three school records this year, including a facility record at the OceanFirst Bank Center in the weight throw. She finished fourth overall in the discus (42.63m) and 11th in both the shot put (11.96m) and hammer throw (44.87m) at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships. McKoy finished her Lehigh career at the ECAC Championships where she not only broke her third school record of the year but she also earned All-East honors in the shot put and discus.
"Teasha is a hard worker and competitor," throws coach Allison Taub said. "She does everything you ask of her and always gives 100 percent. She is the definition of a true leader and one many on the team look up to. Her success of breaking 3 school records this year comes from her passion and commitment to the sport day in and day out."
The Coaches Award was presented to Veronica Meyer and Harrison Ernst, two recent graduates for the Mountain Hawks. The award is presented to student-athletes who made a significant contribution to the team's well-being in terms of attitude, improvement or special leadership.
Meyer has been a key leader in Lehigh's throws group throughout her time in Bethlehem. During the indoor season, Meyer put up solid marks in both the shot put and weight throw. At the indoor Patriot League Championships, she finished 11th in the weight throw with a personal best of 15.86m. In her final Patriot League Championship, she finished eighth overall in the javelin (38.59m), tenth in the hammer throw (46.20m) and 13th in the discus (35.58m).
"Veronica really stepped up as a leader for us this past season," said Taub. "She is very coachable and takes ques and applies them quickly. Her hard work never went unnoticed and her team first mentality is something we look for in all of our athletes."
In his final year at Lehigh, Ernst stepped up as a leader for not only the sprinters, but for the entire Lehigh track and field team. The Garden City, NY. native put up solid times throughout both the indoor and outdoor seasons. At the indoor Lafayette Dual, Ernst won both the 400m (51.84) and 4x400 (3:31.84) to help the Mountain Hawks defeat the Leopards 122-59. To wrap up his career at Lehigh, Ernst finished sixth overall in the 400m (50.58) and third in the 4x400 (3:19.64) at the outdoor Patriot League Championship.
"Harry's career at Lehigh is best described in one word: unexpected," sprints coach Khayla Atte said. "Harry is a boisterous and hard-working individual who started his collegiate career at the back of the pack. Harry is highly coachable, motivating, and independent. Harry's commitment to reaching his goals, and encouraging his teammates, illustrates what it means to believe in the process."
Michael Nardelli and Hetty McMillan were named Scholar Athletes, which is given to the student-athletes who exemplify the ideal of being a scholar athlete. Nardelli graduated with a 3.92 in Chemical Engineering while McMillan, who also graduated in May, earned a 3.96 in Psychology.
Throughout his time at Lehigh, Nardelli was able to find success in both the classroom and on the track. During the indoor season, he earned a second-place finish in the 60m hurdles at the Lafayette Dual (8.47) and went on to finish tenth overall in the 60m hurdles at the indoor Patriot League Championship (8.40). In his final outdoor season as a Mountain Hawk, Nardelli competed in the Carol & John Covert Classic where he finished second in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.20. At the outdoor Patriot League Championships, he finished sixth in the 4x100 (44.70) and tenth in the 110m hurdles (15.43).
"Mike achieved at all levels throughout his career at Lehigh," said assistant coach Brooke Astor. "He made it to the podium in the hurdles, he was integral in our team's leadership, and he excelled in the classroom. Mike is an example to our young athletes that you can be successful on and off the track. I am confident that our team will continue to be successful academically and athletically because Mike and his peers have set a great standard for them to follow."
While McMillan excelled in the classroom, she continued to excel on the track. At the indoor Patriot League championship, she was a member of the winning 4x800 that set a new facility record at Gerhard Fieldhouse in Lewisburg, Pa. McMillan continued to put up solid times on the track during the outdoor season as she wrapped up her career at Lehigh. At the outdoor Patriot League Championships, she won her second gold medal of the year in the 4x800 (8:50.21) and finished third in the 800m (2:11.96). McMillan ended her career at the ECAC Championships where she earned All East honors in her seventh-place finish in the 4x400 (3:54.31).
"There have been many wonderful things written about Hetty and how she was able to persevere through suffocating personal adversity and a severe, random injury early in her career," said women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Deb Utesch. "Throughout her four years, her academic commitment never waivered. She matured as a teammate. She was able to shine as a performer on the track. She found balance and as a result developed into our scholar- athlete award winner."
Players Mentioned
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprint/Middle Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Hurdles/Sprints
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