Liberty League Men's Release | Liberty League Women's Release

TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) track & field programs garnered five year-end awards from the Liberty League, including each of the men's accolades and two Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Senior Ben Fazio (East Greenwich, RI / East Greenwich) was named Track Athlete of the Year, classmate Michael Pesanello (Mahwah, NJ / Mahwah) garnered Field Performer of the Year and junior Terrence Lawrence (Highland, NY / Highland) was selected as the co-Rookie of the Year. Lawrence, a transfer, shares the honor with Jevaughn Sinclair of St. Lawrence University. Rensselaer's coaching staff is made up of head coach Colin Tory and assistants John Lynch, Patrick Weinert, Warren Lutes, Kailyn Balzano, Rick Choppa, Shane Colvin, Joey Correia, Bonnie Deyo, J.C. Kennedy and Bill Quinlisk. 

Below are highlights from the outdoor season for each of the honorees:

Ben Fazio: Track Performer of the Year
Runner-up in NCAA Championship Meet in 5k ... NCAA All-America ... Ran 14:07.76 in 5k at Penn Relays ... Won 1500 meters in Upstate Classic, Liberty League Championship Meet and New York State Collegiate Track Conference Championship Meet ... Eleventh at Swarthmore Final Qualifier ... Won 800 meters at Liberty League Championship Meet and NYSCTC Championship Meet ... Liberty League Championship Track Performer of the Meet ... Liberty League Track Performer of the Week twice.

Michael Pesanello: Field Performer of the Year
Hammer: Won at Upstate Classic, Liberty League Championship Meet and NYSCTC Championship Meet ... Third at Capital District Classic ... Fifth at Oneonta ... Sixth in IC4A/ECAC Championship Meet ... Discus: Fourth at Liberty League Championship Meet ... Seventh at Tufts and Bates ... Shot Put: Fifth at Bates and Upstate Classic ... Sixth at Liberty League Championship Meet ... Fifteenth in NYSCTC Championship Meet ... Liberty League Field Performer of the Week once ... Liberty League All-Academic.

Terrence Lawrence: Rookie of the Year
110 Hurdles: Third at Liberty League Championship Meet and Capital District Classic ... Fourth at Tufts ... High Jump: Won at Upstate Classic and Liberty League Championship Meet ... Runner-up at Tufts ... 200 meters: Third at Liberty League Championship Meet and Capital District Classic ... Eighth in Upstate Classic ... 100 meters: Won at Capital District Classic ... Liberty League Championship Rookie of the Meet ... Did not compete in NYSCTC Championship or any meet after due to injury.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Men
Team won Upstate Classic, Liberty League Championship Meet, Capital District Classic and NYSCTC Championship Meet ... Runner-up at Tufts ... Fourth at Bates ... Team had Track (Fazio), Field (Sam Keller) and Rookie (Lawrence) Athletes of the Meet at Liberty League Championship Meet ... Two NCAA Championship Meet qualifiers (Fazio & Grant O'Connor) ... Two NCAA All-Americas ... Fazio was runner-up in 5k ... O'Connor was runner-up in 10k.

Coaching Staff of the Year: Women
Team won Upstate Classic and Liberty League Championship Meet ... Runner-up at Capital District Classic ... Third at Tufts and NYSCTC Championship Meet ... Fourth at Bates ... One NCAA Championship Meet qualifier (Maddie Dery).