Sambu, Dohrmann named MVPs; Several others claim team awards

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Sophomore Geoffrey Sambu and senior Yeshi Dohrmann accepted their team MVP awards, and several running mates were also honored Monday night as the Tennessee Tech cross country squads celebrated the 2014 season with an awards dinner at the Cookeville Golf Club.

Former U.S. Olympian Jose "Tony" Parrilla was the guest speaker, followed by the presentation of various awards by head coach Wayne Angel, assistant coaches Eugene Frazier and Samantha Linck, and Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.

Sambu, a sophomore from Kenya, led the Golden Eagle men's team in every race in his first year on the roster, following his transfer from Florida A&M. He not only set the school 8K record, he was also first-team all-OVC for his sixth-place finish at the conference championships. He followed that with a 13th place showing in the NCAA South Regional, earning him all-region honors.

Likewise, Dohrmann was the top finisher in every race in 2014 for the Golden Eagle women's team while establishing a new career-best time.

Dorhmann was one of four runners recognized for serving as team captains in Angel's first year at the school. He also presented captain's plaques to Landry Loving for serving as women's team co-captain with Dohrmann, and to Sterling Smith and Brennan Huber as the men's team captains.

Wilson announced the team's Academic Award winners, presenting plaques in recognition to Loving and Huber for topping each of their teams in GPA.

The Most Dedicated Runner awards went to Daniel Williamson and Anna Cooper, while the Most Improved Runner honors were presented to Huber and Cooper.

Huber, a sophomore from Greenbrier, Tenn., fiinished second on the men's team in every race, and sliced two minutes off his personal best 8K time, notching his name in the Tech record book with the third-best time in school history with an 18th place individual showing at the OVC Championships.

Cooper's career-best time also came at the OVC Championships when she finished second on the team. She improved from fifth on the team to second over the course of her rookie season.

Williamson, a sophomore from Union City, Tenn., was third on the squad in four of the five meets in which he competed. Smith, a senior from Knoxville, Tenn., ran among team leaders in the first three meets of the season before being sidelined from action due to an injury.

The evening, which began with viewing a highlight video and a photo presentation, ended with Wilson recognizing the three departing seniors for their contributions to the program. That included Emily Williams, Dorhmann and Smith. Williams, from Talbott, Tenn., and Dohrmann, from Tullahoma, Tenn., are scheduled to graduate on Saturday, while Smith, from Knoxville, Tenn., is on course to receive his degree in 2015.

In photos...
Top Right: Award winners, from left, Daniel Williamson, Yeshi Dohrmann, Anna Cooper, Landry Loving, Brennan Huber, Geoffrey Sambu.
Top left: The 2014 team captains, from left, Brennan Huber, Yeshi Dohrmann, coach Wayne Angel, Landry Loving and Sterling Smith.
Bottom left: From left, Director of Athletics Mark Wilson, guest speaker Jose "Tony" Parrilla and head coach Wayne Angel