NEW ORLEANS, LA. -- Baldwin Wallace throwing coach Jarrod Davis and senior four-time NCAA Division III All-American thrower Kevin Phipps (Pataskala/ Watkins Memorial received Division III Great Lakes Regional Awards for indoor track & field as named by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA).
Davis was named Great Lakes Region Male Assistant Coach of the Year and Phipps was awarded Great Lakes Region Male Field Athlete of the Year. Both men will receive their awards at a banquet tonight (March 10) and prior to this weekend's (March 11-12) NCAA Division III National Championship Meet at Capital University in Columbus.
Davis has taken the Yellow Jacket throwing program to new heights in just four years. During that time, he has developed the Yellow Jacket program as the premiere Division III throwing program in the Great Lakes Region with 2010 graduate and multiple All-American Greg Patrick, Phipps and current throwers Mitch Supan (Medina/ Walsh Jesuit), Zach Marinucci (Brunswick) and Matt Kromer (Parma) leading the men and Stefani Graber (North Royalton/ Padua Franciscan), Erin Norton (Lakewood/ Senior), Cristina Perrine (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) and Leslie Purnell (Springfield/ Central Catholic) leading the females. This season, four BW school records were set and five throwers reached NCAA provisional standards.
Phipps helped the men's indoor track team to three meet titles and a 42-4 overall record this winter. He was named the 2011 Ohio Athletic Conference Bud Yoest Co-Most Outstanding Field Event Athlete after he won the weight throw (61"0.25') and was second in the shot put (51"4.5'). He was also named OAC Field Athlete of the Week twice during the indoor season.
This season, Phipps reset his own school and OAC-record in the 35-pound weight throw with a throw of 62"3.25'inches. He also set a school record in the shot put with a toss of of 56"1'. Both marks hit the NCAA automatic qualifying standard. Entering the national meet, he is ranked in a tie for third in the shot put and eighth in the weight throw. He will compete in the weight throw on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and in the shot put on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Phipps earned All-American accolades indoors last winter with a seventh place finish in the weight throw. He has twice earned All-America honors in the outdoor discus (2009 and 2010) and once in the outdoor hammer (2010).
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