KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan track and field team has announced its team awards for the 2020 season, holding a virtual ceremony on Thursday night.
 
Senior Erin Dowd was named the team's Athlete of the Year for the track and field season that was cut short due to Coronavirus. Dowd finished in second place in the 400-meter run at the Indoor MAC Championship, earning Second Team All-MAC honors. During the season she finished no lower than third place in any 400 run that she raced in. Also excelling in the classroom, Dowd was named Academic All-MAC and a MAC Distinguished Scholar.
 
Senior distance runner Brittney Hall was named the Athlete of the Year for the cross country season. Hall had the best year of her career, pacing every single race the Broncos ran on the season. She finished just shy of All-MAC honors at the MAC Championships and earned MAC Co-Runner of the Week after her performance at the Spartan Invitational. Olivia Van de Pol was named the cross country most improved runner.
 
Distance runner Annalise James was named the team's Freshman of the Year. James burst on to the scene during the cross country season, competing in six meets and registering a 6k personal-best time of 22:49 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship. During the indoor season she competed in the 800-meter run and the mile run. She had two top-eight finishes on the season in the mile at the Youngstown State Invitational and the Akron Invitational.
 
Seniors Riley Wilhelm and Brittney Hall were both given the Outstanding Leadership Award.
 
Head coach Makiba Batten and assistant coaches Tony Filipek and Bridgette Owens also gave out awards for their event groups. Coach Batten's most improved athlete was Madison Ochs, her most dedicated was Aniya Davis, her Bronco Spirit award went to Wynn Stitt and the Most Valuable Athlete in the throws group was Taylor Eaton.
 
Coach Filipek's, who handles WMU's distance runners, most improved athlete was Brittney Hall and the most dedicated went to freshman Mary Raclawski. Kailyn Mince was given the Bronco Spirit award, while Juliane Sormain was named the Most Valuable Athlete.
 
Coach Owens, who handles the sprint/hurdle/jumps group, named Tauja Foreman as the most improved from her group. Senior Jasmine McLemore was named most dedicated, with Kennedy Campeau earning the Broncos Spirit award. Dowd took home the Most Valuable Athlete honors of the group.