RELEASE DATE: 7/1/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CHARITY LEARN AND JOSH WOOTEN NAMED MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

 MANSFIELD – Charity Learn (Troy/North Penn) and Josh Wooten (Henrietta,NY/Rush-Henrietta) have been selected the 2003 Mansfield University Spring Women’s and Men’s Athletes of the Year.

Learn, who was also the Women’s Fall Athlete of the Year, had the most impressive season in Mansfield University women’s track and field history. A freshman, Learn became the first women in school history to win a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship when she finished first in the steeplechase at the PSAC Championship in May.

Learn went on to become the first women in school history to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II National Championship. She was also the first runner in PSAC history to qualify for the conference championship in the 800, 1500, 3000, 5000, 10,000 meters and steeplechase in a single season. Learn also set every distance record in school history this season.

In addition, she finished her freshman year with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Wooten also excelled on the track this season. He won or placed in events from the 800 meters to the 10,000 meters.

Wooten set a school record in the 3,000 meters and became the first men’s runner in school history to qualify for the PSAC Championship in the 1,500, 5,000, 10,000 meters and steeplechase. He went on to earn All-PSAC honors by finishing second in the steeplechase at the PSAC Championship.

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