March 13, 2009

LOWELL (Mar. 13, 2009) - Senior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) was named the East Region Men's Indoor Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Thursday, on the eve of the NCAA Championship at the University of Houston.

The honor is the latest of a handful this year for Sanca, who was also named the USTFCCCA's East Region Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, as well as the Northeast-10 Conference Athlete of the Year for both the cross country season and the indoor track and field season.

An exemplary student, Sanca also earned NE-10 and USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic Team honors for the third straight year.

"What makes Ruben good is that he has simply gotten better every season," said UML Head Coach Gary Gardner. "He has done everything we've ever asked him to do Now, instead of being a fringe all American, he is one of the guys that people watch, that people ask about."

Sanca is currently gearing for the NCAA Championship Friday and Saturday at the University of Houston. He is the No. 3 seed for both the 5,000 meters and the distance medley relay, in which he runs the mile.

Sanca earned the No. 3 seed in the 5,000 meters by virtue of achieving the third-fastest time in the country this season, 14:07.26. He also helped UML's DMR team to a time of 9:57.70, just over four seconds off No. 1 seed Southwest Baptist (9:53.65).

Sanca also qualified for the NCAA Championship in the mile, posting the fourth-fastest time in the country (4:07.22), but opted to concentrate on the 5,000 and DMR.

Following the NCAA Championship, UMass Lowell opens its spring schedule next Saturday (Mar. 21) at the Shamrock Invitational at Coastal Carolina.