NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Three members of the Southern Connecticut State University men's track and field program – head coach John Wallin, assistant coach Nick Lara and senior Diwani Augustine (East Hartford, Conn.) – have been recognized with honors by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Wallin was tabbed as Regional Coach of the Year for the second time this year, while Lara was selected as the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. Augustine captured Regional Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year honors.

Augustine was the champion of the long and triple jumps at the New England Championships with season bests of 24-3½ inches (7.40m) and 49-9¾ inches (15.18m), respectively. Augustine is slated to participate in both events at the NCAA Championships and holds a top-10 seed in the triple jump.

Lara has three Owls among the top nine national performances in the 800 meters. His athletes scored 22 team points to help the Owls win their first New England Championship. During the indoor season, his athletes set SCSU school records in the DMR and 800 meters and earned six USTFCCCA All-America performances indoors.

In his first year as head coach, Wallin led the Owls to the Northeast-10 Championships indoors and outdoors – running their streak to 18 straight league titles, and, for first time, won the New England Championships. Southern Connecticut will be represented with eight entries at the NCAA Championships. The Owls are ranked No. 14 nationally and finished the season No. 1 in the East region. They were ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation during the indoor season.