RELEASE DATE: 3/23/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CHRIS CUMMINGS NAMED PSAC INDOOR TRACK MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

LOCK HAVEN – Mansfield University freshman sensation Chris Cummings (Mansfield/Mansfield) has been the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Male Indoor Track Rookie of the Year. The PSAC Indoor Track and Field Awards were voted on by the head coaches and released by the PSAC office today.

Cummings became Mansfield’s first individual PSAC Champion when he won the mile run at the PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships last month. Cummings not only won the event, which was considered the most competitive race of the Conference Championship, but also broke the PSAC Championship and Mansfield University school records with a time of 4:17.56.

A week prior to the PSAC Championship Meet, Cummings won the mile run at the PSAC East Meet with a the school record time of 4:22.

In addition to his All-PSAC recognition, Cummings also broke the school record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.98 and set the school record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:12. He was also a member of the school record setting distance medley relay and 1600 meter relay teams.

Cummings also competed at the Junior National Cross Country Championship in January where he finished 35^th in the nation in a field comprised of the best freshman runners in all of the NCAA and NAIA.

Cummings was also named the PSAC Cross-Country Rookie of the Year during the fall.