Willis, Grudzwick Earn Northeast Conference Weekly Awards
Willis was named the NEC Field Athlete of the Week and Grudzwick picked up NEC Rookie of the Week honors on Thursday afternoon.
Junior Jeremy Willis and freshman Richard Grudzwick picked up Northeast Conference weekly awards for their individual performances this past Saturday at the Mark Young Invitational hosted by Yale at the Dewitt Cuyler Athletic Complex in New Haven, CT. Willis was named the NEC Field Athlete of the Week and Grudzwick was tabbed the NEC Rookie of the Week via a release on Tuesday afternoon by the league front office.
Willis grabbed gold in the javelin for the second straight week to open up the 2016 outdoor track and field campaign and earn NEC Field Athlete of the Week honors in the process. After taking first in the javelin in the Blue Devils' season opener at home, the junior followed it up with another first place finish this past Saturday at the Mark Young Invitational. The third-year Blue Devil fired the implement 58.65 meters on his third of six attempts to record the result.
Grudzwick also recorded his second consecutive victory to start the 2016 outdoor season, but did so in the 800 meter run at Yale's Mark Young Invitational. On his way to securing the NEC Rookie of the Week award, the Nutmeg State product bested a field of 26 competitors at the meet after crossing the finish line in 1:53.59. The time automatically qualifies the freshman for the IC4A Championships in May and it also currently stands as the second fastest time on the NEC seasonal leader board thus far.
Willis, Grudzwick and the rest of the CCSU men's outdoor track and field team will return to action next as some of the Blue Devils will travel to the Mt. SAC Relays in Norwalk, CA from April 14-16, while the rest head to the Minutemen Invitational on Saturday, April 16.
