NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Selasi Lumax (Somerset, N.J.) and coach, John Wallin, of the No. 3 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State University men's indoor track and field team received the year's highest honors by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA.) Lumax was named the Men's Track Athlete of the Year for the NCAA II Division East Region, while coach Wallin received the honor of Coach of the Year.

Lumax qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trails in the 800 meters at the New England Championships in a meet-record time of 1:47.34. That time was also the fastest in NCAA Division II this season by over two seconds, the best time in All-New England history and a school record. He also ran legs on Southern Connecticut State's top-ranked 4×400 Relay which is currently the No. 2 ranked team in the nation and a fourth-ranked national time in the Distance Medley Relay. In the 2011 outdoor track and field season, he was the top ranked student athlete in the 800 meters and finished seventh at the NCAA Division II Championships.

In only his second year as head coach of the Owls, Wallin led Southern Connecticut to the Northeast-10 conference title, and placed 3rd at the all-division New England Championships. Athletes set two NE-10 Conference records, one New England record, and seven SCSU records this season. The Owls are ranked No. 1 in region and No. 3 nationally, with two No. 1 seeds and four top-six rankings heading into the national meet. He was also named the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.

The Owls will be back in action for the NCAA Division II Championships set for next weekend, March 9-10; in Mankato, Minn. NCAA.com will provide live coverage of the national championships.