March 13, 2009
(portions of this release courtesy of Steven Phelps, Buena Vista University sports information, and Mark Adkins, Wartburg College sports information)

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . A pair of individuals with Iowa Conference ties were recognized March 12 when the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its regional indoor track & field athletes and coaches of the year. Buena Vista University senior Eric Bertelsen (Polk City, Iowa/North Polk) was honored as the USTFCCCA's Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year, while Wartburg College head coach Marcus Newsom was recognized as the USTFCCCA's Women's Coach of the Year. The awards were announced at the annual pre-national championships’ coaches and athletes banquet.

Bertelsen enters this weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships holding the longest jump in Division III this season (7.69 meters). He set that mark during the Iowa Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships, and now has the longest jump by more than a foot and a half, which is also less than one-half inch away from equaling the NCAA record of 7.70 meters.

Bertelsen is the first Beaver to earn such an honor in indoor track.

For Newsom, the award is the 11th combined between indoor/outdoor men’s and women’s competition during his stellar career at the helm of the Knights. Wartburg’s women, ranked No. 2 on the current USTFCCCA Indoor Dual Meet Rankings, rolled up a meet-record 276 points at the Iowa Conference Championships en route to their seventh consecutive league title. The team has eight events competing at this weekend’s national meet. The qualified events are highlighted by the nation’s fastest 4x400 meter relay team and five individuals competing in the 400 meter dash.

The USTFCCCA selects the top track athlete, field athlete, and coach for the eight regions in Division III track and field.

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