Osanitsch Named USTFCCCA East Region Women's Indoor Coach of the Year

Mar. 11, 2008

ATLANTA, Ga. - Shippensburg University track and field coach Dave Osanitsch '96 was named NCAA Division II Women's Indoor Track and Field East Region Coach of the Year on Tuesday by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

It is the third career honor for Osanitsch from the USTFCCCA after he was named men's indoor and outdoor East Region coach of the year in 2006 after he led the men's track and field team to PSAC championships. Also that year, he was named PSAC indoor and outdoor coach of the year.

This year, Osanitsch led the Lady Raiders to the program's first-ever indoor conference title as the team finished in a tie with Slippery Rock at the 2008 PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Each team finished with 110 points while sophomore Mary Dell (Boiling Springs/Boiling Springs) earned championship MVP honors.

Shippensburg will be sending six athletes to this weekend's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, including the women's distance medley relay team who is the first relay team in school history to qualify for the national championships.

The Lady Raiders' 4x400-meter relay team consisting two freshman and two sophomores, set two school records this season, including the all-time PSAC record as they became the first team in PSAC history to break the 12-minute mark on February 9 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. They finished second at the conference championships.

The USTFCCCA selects the outstanding track athlete, field athlete and coach for the eight regions in Division II indoor track and field. Joining Osanitsch in earning honors from the East Region were Danielle Scardino of West Chester who was the women's track selection and Jennifer Hansen of Slippery Rock who took home the women's field award.

The 2008 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held March 14-15 at Myers Field House on the campus of Minnesota State-Mankato. Both days of competition will be broadcast via broadband by the NCAA with the action available live at www.cstv.com

The women's distance medley relay will be held at 8:01 p.m., Friday night.

- Red Raider Track and Field -