McDougal Receives First Sparky
8/4/2008 12:00:00 AM
Click here for detailed supporting information on the five Best Newcomer nominees
14-time All-American Josh McDougal has earned his first Sparky, taking home the award for Best Individual Performance. The senior's NCAA National Cross Country Championship on Nov. 19, 2007 garnered a landslide victory in the online poll.
Voting is now open for Best Newcomer, the third of five award categories in the 2008 Sparkys. The five nominees include Paul Gilbert, Jordan Jenkins, Evans Kigen, Vince Redd and Nicki Scripko. For in-depth supporting information on each of the nominees, click here.
Entering his senior season, McDougal, a native of Peru, N.Y., had already put together a lengthy resume of accomplishments as a distance runner. One of the few things eluding him was a NCAA national title, and McDougal was able to check that accomplishment off his list on Nov. 19, 2007 in Terre Haute, Ind.
McDougal covered the 10K course at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in 29:22.4, coming in exactly one second ahead of Oregon's Galen Rupp, after a fierce two-man battle down the final straightaway. As he crossed the finish line, McDougal became Liberty's second NCAA Division I national champion, joining Heather (Sagan) Zealand's NCAA title in the indoor mile in 2002.
McDougal defeated a high-quality field of distance runners, which included a pair of 2008 U.S. Olympians (Rupp and third-place finisher Lopez Lomong). To read LibertyFlames.com's account of his dramatic victory, click here. (The recap includes a link to CSTV's archived broadcast of the NCAA Division I National Cross Country Championship.)
Liberty fans now have the opportunity to choose the past year's Best Newcomer from among the following five options: Paul Gilbert (Men's Soccer goalkeeper), Jordan Jenkins (Women's Tennis No. 1 singles/No. 1 doubles player), Evans Kigen (Men's Track & Field distance runner), Vince Redd (Football linebacker) and Nicki Scripko (Volleyball outside hitter). Three of the nominees—Gilbert, Jenkins and Scripko—were voted Big South Freshman of the Year in their respective sports, while Jenkins doubled up as Big South Player of the Year.
The winner will be determined through fan voting on the Flames Poll. The Flames Poll is located on the right-hand side of the main page of LibertyFlames.com.
In 2007, Kallie Corbin of the volleyball team claimed the inaugural Sparky for Best Newcomer.
The poll for Best Newcomer will remain open until Aug. 11, at which time the winner will be announced on LibertyFlames.com and balloting for Best Female Athlete will begin. A full voting schedule appears below.
Nominees for Best Newcomer
Paul Gilbert, Men's Soccer
Jordan Jenkins, Women's Tennis
Evans Kigen, Men's Track & Field
Vince Redd, Football
Nicki Scripko, Volleyball
Sparkys Voting Schedule
Biggest Win – Winner: Wrestling team's second consecutive NCAA East Regional Championship (March 9, 2008)
Best Individual Performance – Winner: Josh McDougal's NCAA National Cross Country Championship (Nov. 19, 2007)
Best Newcomer (Aug. 4-11)
Best Female Athlete (Aug. 11-18)
Best Male Athlete (Aug. 18-25)
Year-by-Year Winners of the Sparky for Best Individual Performance
2007: Alex McLean's 40-point, 19-rebound performance at VMI (Feb. 21, 2007)
2008: Josh McDougal's NCAA National Cross Country Championship (Nov. 19, 2007)
14-time All-American Josh McDougal has earned his first Sparky, taking home the award for Best Individual Performance. The senior's NCAA National Cross Country Championship on Nov. 19, 2007 garnered a landslide victory in the online poll.
Voting is now open for Best Newcomer, the third of five award categories in the 2008 Sparkys. The five nominees include Paul Gilbert, Jordan Jenkins, Evans Kigen, Vince Redd and Nicki Scripko. For in-depth supporting information on each of the nominees, click here.
Entering his senior season, McDougal, a native of Peru, N.Y., had already put together a lengthy resume of accomplishments as a distance runner. One of the few things eluding him was a NCAA national title, and McDougal was able to check that accomplishment off his list on Nov. 19, 2007 in Terre Haute, Ind.
McDougal covered the 10K course at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in 29:22.4, coming in exactly one second ahead of Oregon's Galen Rupp, after a fierce two-man battle down the final straightaway. As he crossed the finish line, McDougal became Liberty's second NCAA Division I national champion, joining Heather (Sagan) Zealand's NCAA title in the indoor mile in 2002.
McDougal defeated a high-quality field of distance runners, which included a pair of 2008 U.S. Olympians (Rupp and third-place finisher Lopez Lomong). To read LibertyFlames.com's account of his dramatic victory, click here. (The recap includes a link to CSTV's archived broadcast of the NCAA Division I National Cross Country Championship.)
Liberty fans now have the opportunity to choose the past year's Best Newcomer from among the following five options: Paul Gilbert (Men's Soccer goalkeeper), Jordan Jenkins (Women's Tennis No. 1 singles/No. 1 doubles player), Evans Kigen (Men's Track & Field distance runner), Vince Redd (Football linebacker) and Nicki Scripko (Volleyball outside hitter). Three of the nominees—Gilbert, Jenkins and Scripko—were voted Big South Freshman of the Year in their respective sports, while Jenkins doubled up as Big South Player of the Year.
The winner will be determined through fan voting on the Flames Poll. The Flames Poll is located on the right-hand side of the main page of LibertyFlames.com.
In 2007, Kallie Corbin of the volleyball team claimed the inaugural Sparky for Best Newcomer.
The poll for Best Newcomer will remain open until Aug. 11, at which time the winner will be announced on LibertyFlames.com and balloting for Best Female Athlete will begin. A full voting schedule appears below.
Nominees for Best Newcomer
Paul Gilbert, Men's Soccer
Jordan Jenkins, Women's Tennis
Evans Kigen, Men's Track & Field
Vince Redd, Football
Nicki Scripko, Volleyball
Sparkys Voting Schedule
Biggest Win – Winner: Wrestling team's second consecutive NCAA East Regional Championship (March 9, 2008)
Best Individual Performance – Winner: Josh McDougal's NCAA National Cross Country Championship (Nov. 19, 2007)
Best Newcomer (Aug. 4-11)
Best Female Athlete (Aug. 11-18)
Best Male Athlete (Aug. 18-25)
Year-by-Year Winners of the Sparky for Best Individual Performance
2007: Alex McLean's 40-point, 19-rebound performance at VMI (Feb. 21, 2007)
2008: Josh McDougal's NCAA National Cross Country Championship (Nov. 19, 2007)
Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 11