Men's Track and Field Athletes Brian Gagnon and Mike Rutt Named USTFCCCA All-Americans

USTFCCCA All-Americans

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (March 16, 2008) - University of Connecticut men's track and field athletes Brian Gagnon (Lowell, Mass.) and Mike Rutt (Sinking Springs, Pa.) received the top honor collegiate runners can receive Sunday when they were named All-Americans in the 800-meter run by the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). They are the first UConn men's track athlete to receive this honor since Joel Legare earned it in 2006.

Gagnon and Rutt earned their All-American performances with their qualifying times, plus finishing among the top eight Americans in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Championship on Friday, March 13. Gagnon finished 13th with a time of 1:51.87, while Rutt was 15th with a time of 1:52.79. They are the 28th and 29th men's track and field athletes to earn All-American status at UConn.

The Huskies had a very successful indoor track and field season. The team had three first place and one second place finish in five scored meets this season. That included winning the BIG EAST Championship for the fourth time in the last seven years, as well as winning the New England Championship for the 14th time in the last 15 years.