Mangiacotti tabbed USTFCCCA national and regional women's assistant coach of the year

May 21, 2008

NORTON, MA- Wheaton College fourth-year assistant coach Marc Mangiacotti was selected as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year on Wednesday after being named regional women's assistant coach of the year on Tuesday.

Primarily focusing on Wheaton's sprints, hurdles and relays, Mangiacotti and five Lyon sprinters are at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh this weekend for the national championship meet.

Mangiacotti's sprinters shined this spring, with Chizoba Ezeigwe (Brockton, MA/Thayer Academy) leading the charge, as the junior All-American is slated to compete in the 100-meter dash, 200M and 4x400M relay events at the NCAA Championship. Sophomore Renee Thompson (Hartford, CT/Weaver) will also take part in the 400M dash.

Ezeigwe, Thompson, junior Natana Jules (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) and sophomore Kelly Libert (New Haven, CT/James Hillhouse) turned in the nation's second-fastest time in the 4x400M relay. Finishing in 3:47.27, the quartet's time was just 0.13 ticks shy of the national leader.

In the indoor season, Mangiacotti saw Ezeigwe notch her third consecutive All-America performance in the 400M dash, as the Lyons sent a pair of 400M runners and a 4x400M relay team to March's national championship at Ohio Northern University.

Finishing his fourth season under head coach Paul Souza, the Brockton native has coached nine All-America sprinters on the women's side. In that time, Wheaton's sprinters have recorded 16 All-America honors, including 12 from 4x400M relay squads, three from 400M runners and one from a 200M athlete.

The Lyons get underway at the three-day national championship tomorrow, as Ezeigwe kicks things off in the 200M dash at 6:00 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 8/25/08.
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