EIU Award Winner List
Eastern Illinois track and field standout
Ramsey Hunt and cross country / track distance runner
Adam Swanson have been named co-winners of the EIU Male Athlete of the Year for this past season after both turned in impressive performances throughout the year.
Hunt wrapped up his season in track & field with second team All-American honors as he placed 10
th in the nation in the long jump at the NCAA National Championships. Hunt was the OVC champion this season in both the indoor and outdoor long jump earning a total of three first team All-OVC honors during the track & field seasons. He became just the 18
th Panther to earn All-America honors in track & field at the NCAA Division I level and first to earn that distinction in the long jump. Hunt holds the school record in outdoor long jump breaking a school record that had been previously set during the 1974 season. He finished the year ranked fourth all-time in the indoor long jump. In addition to his success in the long jump, Hunt was part of the Panthers gold medal 4x100 relay while scoring points at the OVC Outdoor Championship in both the triple jump and javelin.
Swanson opened the season leading the Panthers to their fourth straight OVC cross country championship as he was named both the Runner of the Year and the Runner of the Championship after a first place finish at the OVC Championship. Swanson would go on to place 29
th at the NCAA Midwest Regional just missing out on All-Region honors. He finished the season with the second best 8K time in school history and sixth best 10K time. During the indoor track & field season Swanson was named the Track Athlete of the Year and the Athlete of the Championship. He earned second team All-OVC honors in three events (800 meter, mile, DMR). During the outdoor season he was again a second team All-OVC performer in the 800 meter and 1500 meter events ending his season competing in the 800 meter run at the NCAA West Regional.
Hunt and Swanson were two of four candidates for this year's award joined on the list by
Lucas Loos (baseball) and
Tiger Booker (basketball).
EIU will continue the release of its end-of-year awards later this week with the Male & Female Athletic Director's Award set for Wednesday & Thursday. McKenzie Oslanzi from softball was named the Female Newcomer of the Year and MJ Flowers from football was named the Male Newcomer of the Year last week. Giovanna Larregui Lopez from volleyball and Macy McGlone from basketball were named the Female co-Athletes of the Week on Monday.
