NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport track & field and cross country program celebrated its first 500 All-Americans and handed out the team's annual awards on Saturday evening during a special banquet held at the Diamonstein Concert Hall.
 
After the Captains earned the program's 500th All-American honor during the 2015-16 campaign, CNU welcomed back its decorated student-athletes for a gala honoring their historic achievements. Returning to campus, 26 of Christopher Newport's All-American performers attended the banquet. Those athletes and alumni accounted for 123 of the program's 504 national honors.
 
Among the returning Captains, Sheila Trice was a 15-time national champion from 1986-90 and earned a spot in the USTFCCCA Division III Track & Field Hall of Fame for her efforts. Additionally, Vandisha Wilder was a 21-time All-American, Stephanie Andrews was an 11-time honoree, and Meshailay Robinson secured eight national accolades during her career.
 
Along with celebrating the program's history, the Captains also handed out their annual team awards during the banquet. Bringing home the top honors, All-Americans Jennifer Westerholm and Ryan Scott were selected as the team MVPs, while Alexa Tabackman and Zach Campbell were recognized as the squad's Scholar Athletes of the Year.
 
Also celebrated for the efforts in 2015-16, Taylor Mansini and Tyler Robin were honored along with Campbell as the team's Most Improved performers, while Deanna Corts and Lewis Folli received the Coaches' Leadership Awards. Folli and Lydia Cromwell were also recognized as the Most Inspirational in a vote by their teammates.
 
The CNU track & field teams will kick off the 2016-17 campaign on December 4 with the annual Holiday Open at the Freeman Center.
 
---CNU---