NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The Little East Conference recently announced its seasonal awards for the 2008 men's outdoor track and field campaign. The University of Southern Maine captured three of the five major honors as senior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt.) and freshman Mason Shepard (Portland, Maine) selected Track Athlete of the Year and Rookie Track Athlete of the Year, while Scott Hutchinson was named Coach of the Year, respectively. Keene State College sophomore Frank Radlof (Milford, N.H.) was tabbed Field Athlete of the Year, while freshman teammate Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.) was named Rookie Field Athlete of the Year.

Wheeler capped off a sensational senior season by qualifying for the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in a pair of events, making an appearance in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter fields, respectively. The Derby, Vt. native posted a 14th place finish in the national meet in the 5,000-meter run (15.11.00), and 15th in the 10,000-meter run (31:14.47). Wheeler broke the Huskies' program record in the 5,000-meter run three times on the campaign, most recently at the New England Open Championships with a time of 14 minutes and 39.22 seconds to lower the previous standard by seven minutes and 30 seconds. His record-setting pace earned Wheeler a fifth place finish and a spot in the NCAA Championships. Earlier this spring, he won the New England Division III Championships and Maine State Championships in the 5,000, while also claiming the New England Alliance/Little East Conference Championships in the 1,500-meter run. Wheeler was named the Little East Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year in the fall.

Radlof was also one of five male athletes to represent the Little East Conference at the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, competing in the long jump event. The Milford, N.H. product was seeded 10th in the national field after his season-best leap of 7.12 meters at the New England Open Championships. He dominated the 2008 New England Alliance/Little East Conference Championships, winning four individual titles as well as four All-Alliance and four All-Conference honors in the five events he entered. Radlof sat atop the podium in the long jump (6.74 meters) and triple jump (13.33 meters) events, while placing second in the 110-meter hurdles (16.49). Radlof collected all-conference recognition with a second-place performance in the javelin throw (52.48 meters), while placing sixth in the high jump in the New England Alliance field.  

Shepard made an immediate impact in the University of Southern Maine lineup this spring, earning All-New England honors in the 400-meter hurdle event at the New England Division III Championships. The native of Portland, Maine posted a season-low time of 56.06 seconds to place fifth in the championship field. Earlier in the campaign, Shepard claimed two titles at the New England Alliance/Little East Conference Championships. He crossed the finish line in the 110-meter hurdles in 16.16 seconds to capture both the alliance and conference individual titles. The following week, Shepard clocked a season-best time in the 110-meter hurdles (16.05) at the New England Open Championships.

Kolacz made his debut on the national scene in his rookie season, qualifying for the hammer throw event at the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Brentwood, N.H. product qualified for the national meet with an Owl program record and season-high toss of 178'-06" at the New England Open Championships, marking the 12th best throw in the nation. Kolacz posted a fourth place finish in the hammer throw at the New England Division III Championships and New England Open Championships. He dominated the field events at the New England Alliance/Little East Conference Championships, winning the hammer (161'-02") and discus (146'-03"), while placing second in the shot put (45'-05.75"). Kolacz was also named the Little East Conference Indoor Field Athlete of the Year this past winter.    

Hutchinson guided the University of Southern Maine to its first Little East Conference Championship since 2001, breaking Eastern Connecticut's six-year run of dominance. The Huskies posted 194 total points to defeat Keene State College by 69 points, marking the fourth largest victory in the 11-year history of the championship meet. Hutchinson led his charges to the program's best finish at the New England Division III Championships, recording 32 total points to place eighth. A tremendous mentor, he sent two student-athletes to the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where junior James Spaulding (Lewiston, Maine) earned All-American honors in the decathlon. Hutchinson  also placed eight student-athletes on the Spring All-Academic teams.  

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference has since grown to its present eight-school membership, sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletics: baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; field hockey; men's and women's lacrosse; men's and women's soccer; softball; women's swimming; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's indoor track; men's and women's outdoor track and women's volleyball.