Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards

2015 Donald J. Paige Award

Semifinalist Watch List

Released on June 17, 2015

Rochester, NY: Below is the 2015 Semifinalist Watch List for the Donald J. Paige Award (College Male Athlete of the Year - Division 1 Schools).

The members of 10 person watch list come from four colleges and universities. The ten athletes on the Also Considered list come from five schools. Between the two lists, five colleges and universities are represented.

Syracuse University has five athletes on the watch list. The University at Buffalo and Cornell University each have two athletes on the watch list. The University at Buffalo has four on the also considered list while Cornell University has three and Syracuse University has two.

This version of the watch list reflects the performances up through 14 June 2015 and takes into account the announcement results of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships that were held 10-13 June 2015 at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR.

The finalists for this award will be determined from this watch list.

Nominations are accepted from any interested individual or group. Use our nomination form to submit any nomination(s). The nomination form is linked below.

The list of finalists for each of the annual awards will be announced in mid-July.

The finalists (top 3) will be selected from these lists of semifinalists by a panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. The finalists for all eight awards will be guests at our Annual Awards Banquet.

The winner of all eight of Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame annual awards are selected by the same panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. In addition, an online fan vote is held. The results of the fan vote, which is equal to the vote of one member of the panel, is added to the overall totals for each award.

The 2015 Annual Awards winners will be announced at the 2015 Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Awards Banquet to be held at the Radisson – Rochester Airport in Rochester, NY, located near the RIT campus, on Saturday, September 12, 2015.

Nomination Form

Download and save the nomination form to your computer. This is a PDF file.

The form can be competed using Adobe Reader. Type the requested information into the form and save the file to your computer. Then, e-mail the form to

Semifinalist Watch List

Name	Grade	School	Hometown	Event
Freddie Crittenden	SO	Syracuse University	Utica, MI– Utica HS	Hurdles
Jesse Garn	SR	Binghamton University	Marcellus NY / Marcellus HS	Mid-Distance
Martin Hehir	SR	Syracuse University	Washingtonville, NY / Washingtonville HS	Distance
Jonathan Jones	SR	University at Buffalo	Portville, NY / Portville HS	Throws
Justin Knight	FR	Syracuse University	Vaughan, ON / St. Michael's HS	Distance
Dan Lennon	JR	Syracuse University	Peru, N.Y. / Peru HS	Distance
Mike Morgan	JR	University at Buffalo	Ontario, NY / Wayne Central HS	Multi-events
Stephen Mozia	SR	Cornell University	Hackensack, NJ / Hackensack HS	Throws
Donald Pollitt II	SR	Syracuse University	Hazelton, Pa. / Hazelton Area HS	Hurdles
Rudy Winkler	FR	Cornell University	Sand Lake, NY / Averill Park HS	Throws

Season Summary

Freddie Crittenden, Syracuse University

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #21 in the 60 meter Hurdles (7.81)

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 9th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.63w)
Earned Second Team All-American Status
Finished 6th in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.86, 13.73 in prelims)
Finished 2nd at the Miami Hurricane Alumni Invitational in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.80)
Finished 2nd at the 2015 Tiger Track Classic in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.85)
Finished 3rd at ACC Champs in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.74)
Ranked #27 in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.74)

Jesse Garn, Binghamton University

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #6 at 800m (1:46.98)
Ranked #6 at 800m (1:46.98)
Ranked #15 in US for the 800m (1:48.57)
Ranked #4 in US for the 800m (1:46.98) oversized track
Ranked #12 in US for the 1,000m (2:21.10) – fourth collegian

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 4th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 800 meter run (1:49.74)
Earned First Team All-American status
Finished 3rd in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 800 meter run (1:47.21)
Ranked #15 at 800m (1:47.03) and #64 at 1500m (3:43.72)

Martin Hehir, Syracuse University

CROSS COUNTRY SEASON

Earned First Team All-American status
ACC Champion
Selected as the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

INDOOR SEASON

Finished 7th at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 3,000 meter run (8:03.38)
Earned First Team All-American status
Ranked #29 in the 1 mile run (3:59.81)
Ranked #15 at 3000m (7:53.15)
Ranked #31 at 5000m (13:57.97)
ACC Champion in the 5,000m run (13:57.97)
Finished second in the ACC Championships in the 3,000m run (7:53.15)
Selected as the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 13th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 10,000 meter run (29:47.29)
Earned Second Team All-American Status
Finished 3rd in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 10,000 meter run (29:53.89)
ACC runner-up in the 5,000 meter run (14:00.63)
Finished 2nd at the Stanford Invitational in the 10,000 meter run (28:27.70)
Ranked #8 at 5000m (13:35.70)
Ranked #2 at 10,000 meters (28:27.70)
Named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District Team

Jonathan Jones, University at Buffalo

INDOOR SEASON

Finished 3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the Shot Put (20.59m | 67-6.75)
Earned First Team All-American status
Ranked #5 in Shot Put (20.06, 65-9.75)
Set School Indoor Record (20.06m | 65-9.75)
Mid-American Champion in the Shot Put (20.06m | 65-9.75)
Set Mid American Indoor Conference Meet Record (20.06m | 65-9.75)
All-MAC First Team (Indoor Shot Put, 1st Place)
Named

UB Male Student-Athlete of the Year
USTFCCCA Northeast Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year
UB Male Athlete of the Week, 3/2/15
UB Co-Male Athlete of the Week, 3/16/15

OUTDOOR SEASON

NCAA Outdoor Champion in the Shot Put (20.78m | 68-2.25)
Earned First Team All-American status

This performance was a school record
Jon Jones is the first NCAA Division 1 Champion from the University at Buffalo

Finished 3rd in the NCAA East Preliminary in the Shot Put (19.95m | 68-5.5)
MAC Champion in the Shot Put (20.33m | 66-8.5)
Florida Relays Champion in the Shot Put (20.70m | 67-11 college PB)
Set School Outdoor Record (20.78m | 68-2.25)
Set Mid American Outdoor Conference Meet Record 20.33m | 66-8.5)
All-MAC First Team (Outdoor Shot Put, 1st Place)
The first 6-Time All-American at the University at Buffalo
Named

UB Male Student-Athlete of the Year
USTFCCCA Northeast Region Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year
UB Male Athlete of the Week, 4/6/15
MAC Men's Field Athlete of the Week, 4/7/15
UB Male Athlete of the Week, 5/18/15

Ranked #3 in SP (20.70m | 67-11)

Justin Knight, Syracuse University

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 6th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 5,000 meter run (13:50.96)
Earned First Team All-American status
Finished 3rd in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 5,000 meter run (13:53.48)
ACC Champ at 1500m (3:47.85)
Ranked #8 at 1500m (3:39.66)
Ranked #6 at 5000m (13:34.86)
Set Syracuse and Canadian Junior records in the 1,500m run and the 5,000m run

Dan Lennon, Syracuse University

CROSS COUNTRY SEASON

Finished 8th at the NCAA Division I Northeast Region Cross Country Championships
Finished 15th at the ACC Cross Country Championships
Earned All-ACC honors

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 15th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 10,000 meter run (29:55.69)
Earned Second Team All-American status
Finished 12th in East Preliminary in the 10,000 meter run (30:09.95)
ACC runner-up in the 10,000 meter run (28:43.84)
Ranked #10 in 10,000m (28:46.21)

Mike Morgan, University at Buffalo

INDOOR SEASON

Finished 3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the Heptathlon (5,995 points)

This performance was a school record

Earned First Team All-American status
Ranked #4 in Heptathlon (5797 points converted, 5772 actual)
Ranked #47 in Pole Vault (5.21m. 17-1)
Ranked #74 in the high jump (2.10m | 6-10.75)

OUTDOOR SEASON

DNF at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the Decathlon
Earned Honorable Mention status
Ranked #12 in Decathlon (7538 points)

Stephen Mozia, Cornell University

INDOOR SEASON

Had no mark in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships
Earned Honorable Mention status
Ranked #16 in Shot Put (19.35m, 63-6), #70 in the weight throw (19.63m | 64-5)

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 18th at the NCAA Outdoor Champs in the Shot Put 18.77m (61-7)
Earned Honorable Mention status
Finished 12th in the NCAA East Preliminary in the Shot Put (18.72m | 61-5)
Finished 33rd in the NCAA East Preliminary in the Discus Throw (52.48m | 172-2)
IC4A Champion in the Shot Put (18.21m | 59-9)
IC4A Champion in the Discus Throw (61.34m | 201-3)
Ivy League (Heps) Champion in the Shot Put (19.74m | 64-9.5)
Runner-up in the Ivy League (Heps) Championships in the Discus Throw (61.18m | 200-9)
Named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the Ivy League (Heps) Championships
Won Stanford Invitational in the Shot Put (18.75m | 61-6.25)
Won Stanford Invitational in the Discus Throw (57.53m | 188-9)
Finished 4th at the Texas Relays in the Discus Throw (58.58m | 192-2)
Won the Discus Throw at the Bison Outdoor Classic (58.45m | 191-9)
Ranked #5 in SP (20.18m | 66-2.5)
#6 in DT (61.34m | 201-3)
Received these Cornell Teams Awards

Dr. George Ladas Award (Best Thrower)
Narcissa Kellett Award (Most Valuable)
Blanford Award (Most Points over 4 Years)

Named the Charles H. Moore Outstanding Senior Varsity Athlete at Cornell for 2014-2015

Donald Pollitt II, Syracuse University

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #21 in 60H (7.81)

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 13th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.68)
Earned Second Team All-American status
Finished 2nd in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 110 meter high hurdles (13.72)
Finished 4th at the Miami Hurricane Alumni Invitational in the 110 meter high hurdles (14.09)
Finished 5th in ACC Champs in the 110 meter high hurdles (14.06)
Ranked #14 in 110H (13.59)

Rudy Winkler, Cornell University

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #31 in Weight Throw (20.74m, 68-0.5)
Ivy League Champion in the Weight Throw (20.74m | 68-0.5)
Named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the Ivy League (Heps) Championships

OUTDOOR SEASON

Won Amity Throws Meet Hammer Throw (70.36m | 230-10)
- This performance was a school record
Finished 8th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the Hammer Throw (68.10m | 223-5)

This performance was a school record

Earned First Team All-American status
Finished 7th in the NCAA East Preliminary in the Hammer Throw (65.85m | 216-0)
Ivy League Champion in the Hammer Throw (66.46m | 218-0)
Finished 2nd at the Penn Relays in the Hammer Throw Championship (64.66m | 212-2)
Won the Bison Outdoor Classic Hammer Throw (65.31m | 214-3)
Broke the school record for the Hammer Throw seven times this year
Ranked #19 in HT (66.51m | 218-2)

Others Considered

Name	Grade	School	Hometown	Event
Austin Ashby	JR	University at Buffalo	Weedsport, NY / Weedsport HS	Long Jump
Colin Bennie	FR	Syracuse University	Princeton, MA / Wachusett HS	Distance
Ryan Billian	JR	University at Buffalo	Levittown, NY / Division Avenue HS	Sprints
Brian Crimmins	JR	University at Buffalo	Big Flats, NY / Horseheads HS	Mid-distance
Wayne Gordon	JR	Kent State University	Amherst NY / Sweet Home HS	Sprints
Max Hairston	JR	Cornell University	Lower Gwynedd, PA / Wissahickon HS	Hurdles
Connor Herr	JR	Cornell University	Medford, NJ / Shawnee HS	Steeplechase
David Melly	SR	Cornell University	Newton, MA / Newton South HS	Steeplechase
Tyler Scheving	JR	University at Buffalo	Middleport, NY / Barker HS	Mid-distance
Max Straneva	SR	Syracuse University	Binghamton, NY / Chenango Valley HS	Distance

Season Summary

Austin Ashby, University at Buffalo

OUTDOOR SEASON

Ranked #45 in LJ (7.56m | 24-9.75)

Colin Bennie, Syracuse University

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 14th at the NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 5,000 meter run (14:12.88)
Earned Honorable Mention status
Finished 9th in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 5,000 meter run (13.58.68)
Finished 3rd at the ACC Champs in the 10,000 meter run (29:50.64)
Ranked #47 in the 5,000 meter run (13:53.97)

Ryan Billian, University at Buffalo

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 20th at the NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 100 meter dash (10.41)
Earned Honorable Mention status
Finished 9th at the NCAA East Preliminary in the 100 meter dash (10.41, 10.35 in prelims)
Runner-up in MAC Champs in the 100 meter dash (10.49)
Ranked #53 at 100m (10.35) and #66 at 110H (14.07)

Brian Crimmins, University at Buffalo

OUTDOOR SEASON

Ranked #54 at 800m (1:48.71)

Wayne Gordon, Kent State University

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #35 in 60m (6.69) and #21 at 200m (20.95)

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 24th at the NCAA East Preliminary in the 100 meter dash (21.43, 21.10 in prelims)
Ranked #62 at 100m (10.38) and #49 at 200m (20.81)

Max Hairston, Cornell University

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #38 in 60H (7.88)
Injured for most of the indoor season.

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 39th at the NCAA East Preliminary in the 110 meter high hurdles (14.46)
Finished 32nd at the NCAA East Preliminary in the 400 meter hurdles (52.43)
Ranked #52 in 110H (14.00) and #80 in 400H (51.86)

Connor Herr, Cornell University

OUTDOOR SEASON

Ranked #54 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (8:53.66)

David Melly, Cornell University

OUTDOOR SEASON

Ranked #43 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (8:51.83)

Tyler Scheving, University at Buffalo

INDOOR SEASON

Ranked #38 at 800m (1:49.21)

OUTDOOR SEASON

Ranked #65 at 800m (1:49.02)

Max Straneva, Syracuse University

OUTDOOR SEASON

Finished 18th at NCAA Outdoor Champs in the 10,000 meter run (30:06.94)
Earned Honorable Mention status
Finished 9th in the NCAA East Preliminary in the 10,000 meter run (30:08.10)
Finished 5th in ACC Champs in the 5,000 meter run (14:15.84)

About the Donald J. Paige Award

The Donald J. Paige Award, which debuted in 2012, is presented annually by the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame to the outstanding NCAA Division 1 College Male Athlete of the Year in or from the Niagara Association.

Syracuse's Jarret Eaton is the reigning winner of the Donald J. Paige Award.

Paige, a member of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2000, who graduated from C.W. Baker High School, Baldwinsville, NY, and Villanova University. He was a member of the 1980 United States Olympic Track and Field Team for 800 meters, and was Pan-American Games Champion at 1500 meters in 1979. He set five World Records two American Records, and one Collegiate Best. Paige is a Two-time USA National Champion Indoors at 1000 yards and a six-time NCAA Champion.

For more information on The Donald J. Paige Award, the trophy, and Don Paige himself, visit NiagaraTrackHoF.org.

About the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards

The Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards program was developed to bring some well deserved recognition to the outstanding high school and college athletes and teams, and the top high school coach from the Niagara Association. These awards are presented at our annual awards banquet which is held on the Saturday after Labor Day.

The finalists (top 3) are selected from the lists of semifinalists by a panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians. The finalists for all eight awards will be guests at our Annual Awards Banquet.

About the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame

Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame and Virtual Museum is provisionally chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The purpose of the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame and Virtual Museum is to recognize those individuals who made significant and outstanding contributions to the Sport of Athletics (including Track & Field, Long Distance Running, Race Walking, and Cross Country Running) while living within the geographic boundaries (New York State West of and including the counties of Oswego, Onondaga, Cortland, and Broome) of the Niagara Association as athletes (including Masters), coaches, and/or administrators (including Competition Officials).