Athletics: Bay runner receives accolade

Eric Speakman

Hawke's Bay runner Eric Speakman was honoured as the 2014-15 America East Man of the Year on Tuesday evening at the conference's annual awards dinner on Mount Washington in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.

The honour recognises the Stony Brook crosscountry and track and field standout as the conference's senior male student athlete who excelled throughout his university career in academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

The conference's senior female administrators whittled down the pool of nine institutional Man of the Year nominees to three finalists on May 14 before picking Speakman as winner.

The other finalists were University at Albany men's basketballer Sam Rowley and UMBC track and field athlete Yao Adantor.

To be nominated, student athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in his primary sport by the end of the 2015 northern spring season, received his undergraduate degree before the end of the summer 2015 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

A Stony Brook graduate, Speakman excelled in all facets of college life embodying the conference's three pillars of the complete student athlete.

In the classroom, he registered a 3.90 GPA as a double major in business and economics with a concentration in management and operations. Speakman received a litany of academic honours throughout his career, earning Dean's List every semester, four America East Scholar-Athlete awards and was named a Stony Brook Presidential Scholar for having a perfect 4.0 semester GPA six times.

The Napier Harrier was also the conference's first men's country Elite 18 Award recipient in October and was named an America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete for graduating with over a 3.75 GPA last week.

A three-year captain for the Seawolves' crosscountry and track and field programmes, Speakman, who received coaching from Mick Cull in the Bay, devoted time as a volunteer to several causes.

He volunteered as a PACK mentor, Red Watch Band member, Cerebral Palsy Quality Friend and was treasurer for the Stony Brook chapter of The Supply helping to provide aid to slums across the world.

Athletically, Speakman became just the fifth male to win the America East individual crosscountry title for a second time in 2014 after also clinching the 2012 race. He also was a multi-time all-conference honouree in track and field and was the Most Outstanding Rookie at the 2012 America East Indoor Championship.