March 3, 2004

PARK RIDGE, IL - Penn State senior Connie Moore garnered Big Ten Conference Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Year accolades while Illinois' sprinter Yvonne Mensah was honored as Freshman of the Year today in a vote by the League coaches. Penn State mentor Beth Alford-Sullivan was named the 2004 Coach of the Year.

Moore was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Championships after posting wins in the 60- meter dash (7.27) and the 200-meter dash (23.44), en route to the Nittany Lions' first-ever Big Ten Championships crown. Her time in the 60 meter was a personal best on the season, Penn State record and was the sixth-fastest time by a collegian this year. Moore's 200-meter mark of 23.44 broke the Big Ten Championships record (23.47), set two years ago by Indiana's Rachel Boone. Additionally, both times broke the Iowa Recreation Building record. Moore is the first Nittany Lion to be named Big Ten Athlete of the Championships or Athlete of the Year.

Illinois' sprinter Yvonne Mensah was chosen as the Conference's Freshman of the Year after winning the 60-meter hurdle at the Big Ten Championships. Mensah registered a 8.32 to win the event. She is the first Illinois student-athlete has been selected as the Conference's Women's Indoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year.

Penn State's Beth Alford-Sullivan garnered Big Ten Coach of the Year laurel of her career after guiding the Nittany Lions to their first Conference title in school history. It is also the first time a Penn State mentor has been named Coach of the Year.

Big Ten Women's Indoor Track

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