May 21, 2008

Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State won half of the Big West's track and field postseason awards as announced by the conference office. Chosen by the eight track and field coaches, the Beach won three men's awards and one women's award.

The men's team won the two major awards, as Brent Gray was chosen as the Track Athlete of the Year while Chris Richardson was named the Field Athlete of the Year. Both athletes earned the award for the second, as each were dual winners at the conference meet this year.

Their success helped the men take the Big West title this season in dominating fashion, under the guidance of Andy Sythe, who was named the Men's Coach of the Year after leading the team to their fifth overall title and their second in the past three years.

Gray becomes the first back-to-back winner in almost 15 years. A five-event NCAA qualifier, Gray took four golds at the Big West Championships, winning two as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams along with the 100m dash and his specialty, the 200m dash where he is ranked fifth nationally.

Richardson won the decathlon at the Big West championships, and is one of the favorites to take national title at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines. The 2006 champion, the senior redshirted last year to train for the decathlon, and is a two-time Field Athlete of the Year with honors from 2006 to go along with this season's award.

On the women's side, Freshman Phylicia Johnson was named the Big West Freshman of the Year. One of the most consistent performers on the team, Johnson earned a spot in the NCAA Regionals with a time of 13.85 at the Big West Championships in the 100m hurdles. She also took third place in the long jump with a 19'6," a lifetime-best, part of 11 total points scored at the conference championship.

The 49ers next action comes at the NCAA Regionals, where Long Beach State has 9 women and 12 men automatically qualified. That meet begins May 30 in Northridge, Calif.