The City University of New York Athletic Conference announced its year-end track and field awards late Friday evening, and the Lehman College track and field squads received a number of impressive honors. First and foremost, Head Coach Lesleigh Hogg was named Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year after leading both the women’s and men’s programs to CUNYAC titles. On the women’s side, the program won its second championship in the last three seasons, and sixth in school history. The men’s team captured the conference crown for the first time in its existence. Hogg was also named Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, but he will share the honor with Tom Pope of York College. Lehman’s legendary skipper led the women’s outdoor squad to a CUNY crown while also guiding the men to a second place finish.
Freshman Lauren Lourick was named indoor and outdoor track and field Rookie of the Year for her phenomenal performances for the Lightning in her first season with the squad. Her most impressive display on the indoor circuit came during the 2008 CUNYAC championship meet, as she earned the meet’s Most Valuable Performer award. Lourick won all three jumping events on the night, including the long jump (5.24m), triple jump (11.00m) and high jump (1.42m). She also placed sixth in the 55-meter dash (7.85). She then went on to compete in the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships where she finished 14th in the women’s triple jump event, putting together a leap of 35-8.75. During the 2008 CUNYAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship Meet, Lourick won both the High Jump and Triple Jump with leaps of 1.52 meters and 5.18 meters, respectively. She then went on to compete in the NCAA Division III Outoor Track and Field Championships, placing 11th in the triple jump event.
In addition to Lourick receiving a prestigious honor, standout Dorothy Jean-Pierre was tabbed as a CUNYAC All-Star performer.
On the men’s side, five Lehman performers were named CUNYAC All-Star performers, including Pete Charles, Irfan Anwar, Richard James, Michael Francis, and Jase Franklyn.
As it pertains to the outdoor track and field season, two Lehman female standouts were named CUNYAC All-Stars, including Dorothy Jean-Pierre and Rama Bah. Pierre, a two-year member of the outdoor team, is a student-athlete who has set a positive example for her teammates throughout her tenure thus far at Lehman College. During the outdoor CUNYAC championship meet, Pierre finished first in the 1500 Meter Run with a time of 5:05.56 while also placing second in the 800 Meter Run, clocking in at 2:26.30.
Bah also played a key role in leading the women’s outdoor track and field squad to glory during the conference championship meet, as she recorded a first place finish in the 100 Meter Hurdle, as she finished with a time of 15.49. In addition, she placed second in the 400 Meter Hurdle with a time of 1:08.20 and second in the Long Jump with a leap of 4.96 meters.
Pete Charles took home the Outdoor Track and Field Most Valuable Performer award. During the 2008 CUNYAC Championship competition, Charles was named the Most Outstanding Athlete of the meet. He paced his unit by capturing the Long Jump and Triple Jump events with leaps of 6.63 meters and 14.40 meters. He then reached All-American status with his performance in the Outdoor Track and Field NCAA Division III championships, as he finished fifth in the triple jump event with a leap of 14.83 meters.
Other Lehman male outdoor track and field performers recognized as All-Stars were Jase Franklyn, Michael Francis, and Joseph Bodden.