Steve Dolan, the James P. Tuppeny/Betty J. Costanza Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, has been named the unanimous choice for Women’s Ivy League Coach of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday, May 8. To boot, 16 members on the women’s track and field team earned All-Ivy recognitions, a program record, based on their performances last weekend at the Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championship.
The Coach of the Year distinction marks Dolan’s second this season and third overall. He was also named unanimous Women’s Coach of the Year after Penn’s victory during Indoor Heps in February, and Men’s Coach of the Year during the Fall 2016 cross country season.
The Quakers saw a historic level of success on their home turf over the weekend, dominating the Ancient Eight for their first outdoor title since 1988, completing an indoor/outdoor sweep on the year.
Junior Nicole Macco claimed the pole vault championship, while Anna Peyton Malizia tallied her second Heps victory in the high jump. In throwing events, Rachel Lee Wilson captured the hammer, and the freshmen duo of Ashley Anumba and Brooke Cope won the discus and javelin, respectively. Anumba was also named Co-Most Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet with her monster toss of 55.00m.
Abby Hong capped her senior season in impressive fashion, finishing undefeated in the major distance races at both indoor and outdoor Heps championships. Hong won the 5,000m and 10,000m over the weekend, while freshman Danielle Orie placed second in both races. Freshman Uchechi Nwogwugwu won the 400m, and sophomore Nia Akins won the 800m. The quartet of Gina Alm, Mikayla Schneider, Rachel Stremme and Akins won Penn’s second 4x800m relay title of the year, capping the Red & Blue’s 10 First-Team All-Ivy selections.
In addition to Orie’s two Second-Team recognitions, Taylor McCorkle placed second in the 100m, and teammate Cecil Ene ran second in the 200m after setting a program record in the prelims. Schneider finished right behind Akins in the 800m, giving Penn the one-two punch, and the 4x100m relay team of Barbara Biney, McCorkle, Camille Dickson, and Ene crossed the finish line second as well.
Penn’s 177 points set a program record, with the Quakers scoring in 17 of the 22 events.
