NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore Kimberly Johnson (Lisbon, Conn.) of the Southern Connecticut State University women's indoor track and field team has been named the 2011 East Regional Field Athlete of the Year, as it was announced today. In addition, head coach Chris Covert was tabbed as the Regional Coach of the Year.

Johnson is the No. 5 seed in the pole vault in the upcoming NCAA Championships. She set a new school record in clearing a season's best of 12-6¼ (3.82m) in finishing third at the NEICAAA Championships. Johnson, who has been No. 1 in East all year in the pole vault, was also the Northeast-10 champ in the vault. She also earned All-New England honors during the winter campaign.

Covert guided the Owls to the Northeast-10 Conference championship as well as a third-place team finish at the New England's, which was best among Division II schools. The Owls will be represented in four events at the NCAA Indoor Championship meet. SCSU heads into the championship meet ranked No. 1 in the East Region and No. 19 nationally.