Men's track honors 2008 award-winners
October 31, 2008 | Men's Track & Field
Before turning its attention completely to the upcoming 2009 season, the Wisconsin men 's track and field team came together last weekend for a final celebration of its outstanding 2008 campaign.
The Badgers held their annual awards banquet last Sunday in Heritage Hall, with the event serving as a chance to reflect on last season's Big Ten Conference championships in both cross country and indoor track and field.
Sophomore Jack Bolas was presented the Dan McClimon Memorial Award as the team 's most valuable athlete following an outstanding second season with the Badgers.
The Chapel Hill, N.C., native was twice an All-American in 2008, anchoring the Badgers to a third-place finish in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships and taking third outdoors in the 1,500 meters.
He also earned All-Mideast Region honors with a runner-up showing the 1,500, powered the UW to a Big Ten title in the distance medley relay and was part of the Badgers' winning effort in the DMR at the 2008 USA Indoor Championships.
In addition, Bolas was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
The Dr. Walter Deike Memorial Award, given to the team's most outstanding track athlete, went to sophomore Craig Miller. Miller also was part of the Badgers' conference-title and All-America efforts in the DMR, while also taking third in the mile at the Big Ten indoor championships. He also took home a regional title in the 1,500 by winning at the NCAA Mideast Regional.
Sophomore Rayme Mackinson took home the Tom Jones Memorial Award as the team's most outstanding field event athlete. Mackinson was runner-up in the long jump at the Big Ten indoor championships and owned the Badgers' top marks in both the indoor and outdoor long jump. He also earned a spot in regional competition in the event.
The Friends of Wisconsin Track Award, presented to the team's most improved track athlete, went to sophomore Nate Larkin. Larkin owned the Badgers' top times in both the indoor 60-meter hurdles and outdoor 100-meter hurdles, posting a fourth-place finish in the 100 hurdles at the NCAA Mideast Regional.
The Goodman Jewelers Award for most outstanding freshman athlete went to Evan Jager. Jager, who has since embarked on a professional career, earned a pair of All-America honors as a freshman. He was part of the Badgers' third-place effort in the DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships and also took eighth in the 1,500 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, in addition to All-Mideast Region honors.
A trio of seniors shared the The Badger Award, with 2008 team captains Derek Thiel and Peter Dykstra honored along with Luke Hoenecke.
Thiel graduated with a degree in zoology following a career that saw him score in Big Ten competition five times in the pole vault. In 2008, he was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, as well.
Dykstra, a four-time Big Ten scorer in the multi-events, graduated with degrees in sociology and economics.
Hoenecke, who graduated with degrees in economics and history, was part of the Badgers ' All-America effort in the DMR at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships and was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and an NCAA regional qualifier in the 4x400 relay.
The event also was an opportunity to honor head coach Ed Nuttycombe, who completed his 25th season at the helm of the UW men's program in 2008. Nuttycombe was presented with a commemorative photo collage autographed by a number of his former UW athletes.
