YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's cross country team handed out its 2009 team awards at the annual cross country banquet, as senior harrier Curtis Vollmar (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) took home the EMU's Most Outstanding Runner award.
Vollmar ran in every competition for the Eagles in 2009, running the fastest time in EMU cross country history to win the Detroit Titan Invitational individual title with a time of 19:54, Sept. 12. Vollmar, a two-time MAC Runner of the Week selection in 2009, was the first Eagle harrier to cross the finish line in every race he's competed in this season, finishing in the top five in all but one race. Vollmar picked up first-team All-MAC accolades for the second straight year by finishing fourth overall with a time of 25:57.5. At the Great Lakes Regional, Vollmar finished 17th to pick up All-Region honors.
True freshman Terefe Ejigu (Mount Cook, Wellington-Wellington-New Zealand) was named EMU's Most Outstanding Freshman, while redshirt freshman James Hughes (Manchester, Mich.-Manchester) and junior Matt Hammersmith (Wolcottville, Mich.-Prairie Heights) both picked up Most Improved Runner honors. Senior harrier R.P. White (Hillsdale, Mich.-Hillsdale) won the Coaches Award after a solid senior campaign.
Dan McClory was honored with the Eastern Man Award at the banquet by EMU Director of Athletics Derrick Gragg.
2009 Men's Cross Country Team Awards
Most Outstanding Runner - Curtis Vollmar
Outstanding Freshman - Terefe Ejigu
Most Improved - James Hughes and Matt Hammersmith
Coaches Award - R.P. White
Eastern Man Award - Dan McClory