BABSON PARK, Mass. — The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) announced its postseason awards for women’s and men’s track and field on Wednesday. The women’s champion Wheaton College led the way with four award winners, while men’s champion Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy claimed one apiece.

For the second straight spring, Wheaton junior Jennifer Harlow (East Bridgewater, MA/East Bridgewater) was named NEWMAC Female Athlete of the Year based on her performance at last weekend’s conference championship meet, where she garnered five All-NEWMAC citations. She won both the 100-meter hurdles and high jump competitions while recording second-place showings in the long and triple jumps and as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team. Wheaton first-year Jonathan Cunha (Lexington, MA/Lexington) was named Men’s Rookie of the Year after claiming NEWMAC titles in the 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, 4x100 relay, and 4x400 relay. Fellow first-year Chizoba Ezeigwe (Brockton, MA/Thayer Academy) earned Rookie of the Year honors for the women after winning the 100- and 200-meter dash events while joining Harlow in the Lyons’ second-place 4x100 team. Head coach Paul Souza rounded out Wheaton’s honorees when he was named Women’s Coach of the Year for the seventh time.

Earning NEWMAC Athlete of the Year honors on the men’s side was MIT senior Uzoma Orji (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional), who won the conference championship in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw. Coast Guard’s Dan Rose was selected as the Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to a second-place performance at the conference meet.

2006 NEWMAC Track and Field Awards
NEWMAC Women’s Coach of the Year
Paul Souza, Wheaton College

NEWMAC Women’s Athlete of the Year
Jennifer Harlow, Wheaton College

NEWMAC Women’s Rookie of the Year
Chizoba Ezeigwe, Wheaton College

NEWMAC Men’s Coach of the Year
Dan Rose, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

NEWMAC Men’s Athlete of the Year
Uzoma Orji, MIT

NEWMAC Men’s Rookie of the Year
Jonathan Cunha, Wheaton College