Slaven, Woznicki Capture Top Cross Country Awards
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference announced its 2007 all-SSC cross country teams on Wednesday with The University of Tampa capturing a pair of major awards on the women's side and one with the men. UT's Laura Woznicki was named the Runner of the Year while Jarrett Slaven was the Coach of the Year for both the men and women.
Joining Woznicki as first-team all-SSC performers were teammates Jessica Forrester, Paige Williams and Julia Vola. Others on the team included Carolyn Salois-Horst (Florida Tech) and Carolyne Kwambai (Florida Southern).
The UT men were also represented by a total of three first-team all-SSC runners. Anthony Nicolosi, Chris Catanach and David Forry were all named to the team. With the selection, Forry becomes the first UT male runner to be a four-time all-SSC selection. He will conclude his career as a three-time first-team choice (2004-05, 2007) while being a second-team selection in 2006.
A senior, Woznicki was a unanimous choice for Runner of the Year honors after a stellar season that saw her post top three finishes in all five of the Spartans' races. The Lakeland native placed first at the SSC Championships, finishing the 6K course in a time of 21:39. Woznicki also finished first at the Disney Classic, where she notched a season-best time of 17:42, and the Tampa Early Bird Classic. She registered a pair of third-place finishes at the Florida and Florida State Invitationals.
Slaven, who was also selected the Men's Coach of the Year, wins the women's recognition after leading Tampa to its fifth SSC title in six years. As a team, Tampa's women finished first or second in all five events in which they have competed thus far. In addition to their victory in the SSC Championship, the squad posted first-place finishes at the Tampa Early Bird and Disney classics. The Spartans claimed second place at the Florida and Florida State Invitationals. Slaven wins Women's Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time in his eight seasons as head coach at Tampa. The Spartans are ranked No. 15 in the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll.