NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Despite a shortened season due to COVID-19, the list of accomplishments achieved by the Yale women's track and field team during the 2019-20 campaign was long. On Wednesday, May 13, Mark T. Young '68 Director of Cross Country and Track and Field David Shoehalter and the rest of the Yale coaching staff honored these and many other accolades as they presented the annual awards at a virtual banquet open to student-athletes, alums and parents.

The following are the awards presented and the list of recipients.
 

Stroube Family Award: Lillian Enes

Senior Lilly Enes earned the Stroube Family Award, given to the outstanding female track and field athlete who excels in Sportsmanship, Courage, and Inspiration. This award marks not just one, but four years of incredible success as a Bulldog for Enes. Her accolades on the track included winning the 60 meter dash twice this season, setting new personal bests in the 60 and the 200, and helping relay teams, including captaining the scoring 4x400 meter relay at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track and Field Championships. However, Enes leaves much more than just her school record in the 400 meters and other impressive performances behind. Over four years she was a rock-solid performer and even more dependable teammate, truly embodying the best of Yale Athletics and what it means to wear the Y.

James Stack '61 Award: Kayley DeLay

Junior Kayley DeLay earned this "MVP" award named for Jim Stack, the captain and leader of the incredibly successful 1961 Yale team. DeLay, who will serve as cross country captain for the 2020-21 season, was a leader on and off the track for the Bulldogs this year. DeLay dominated in every race she ran. She competed in off events, winning the 1,000 meters at the Yale-Dartmouth-Columbia tri-meet and boasting impressive times in the 800 meters and the mile early in the season. While DeLay's talent across the board could have landed her in any event, when it came down to it, she shone the brightest in the 3,000 meters. The 2019 Ivy League Cross Country Champion came within a second of the school record in the 3,000 meters midway through the season with a top-30 time nationally, and ultimately claimed her second Ivy League title winning the 3,000 at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships in Ithaca. DeLay's value to the team extends far away from the track as well, as she pushes and supports her teammates in all aspects. 

Lee Calhoun Award: Libby McMahon

Sophomore Libby McMahon was awarded this year's Lee Calhoun Award, given each year in honor of Yale Men's Head Track Coach Lee Calhoun, for a Yale athlete who excels in sprinting or hurdling. After a widely successful season winning the 200 meters at the Yale-Dartmouth-Columbia tri-meet, recording multiple top-finishes and running relay legs of the 4x400 meters, McMahon ended her season on a pair of high notes, finishing sixth in the 200 meters at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships, then breaking the school record in the event the following week at the IC4A/ECAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

Outstanding Thrower Award: Emma Vasen 

Sophomore Emma Vasen is now the back-to-back winner of Yale's Outstanding Thrower Award. After a phenomenal first year with the Bulldogs, she returned to campus for her sophomore year and was forced to have foot surgery late in the fall. Overcoming these obstacles, Vasen continued to excel during her second year at Yale. The New Jersey native set a personal best in the weight throw and won the shot put at both the Yale Season Opener and the Giegengack Invitational, also recording second- and third-place finishes in the shot put and weight throw at the Yale-Dartmouth-Columbia tri-meet and competing in both events at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

Outstanding Jumper Award: Erin Gerardo

Junior Erin Gerardo's success this year shows as much mental toughness as physical talent. Gerardo has been Yale's sole female pole vaulter during her collegiate career, and was the only pole vaulter during the 2019-20 season. No one would have known this about her training looking at her junior year, where she won the pole vault at the Yale Season Opener, recorded multiple top-three finishes throughout the season, set a new personal record for height cleared, and ultimately placed fourth in the entire Ivy League in the event at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

Outstanding Middle Distance Runner Award: Jocelyn Chau

Sophomore Jocelyn Chau earned Outstanding Middle Distance Runner for the second year running. She has been an absolute staple of the women's middle distance program since she first stepped foot on campus, and posted many of her best performances to date this season. Chau bolted out of the gates in her first meet of the season, setting new personal bests in the 500 meters and 1,000 meters en route to winning the latter. Holding the third-fastest time in the event in Yale history, she went on to compete in the 1,000 meters at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships, finishing third.  

Outstanding Distance Runner Award: Jane Miller

Senior Jane Miller capped off her career as a Bulldog earning Outstanding Distance Runner for the 2019-20 season. Despite not getting a shot at her strongest event outdoors, the 10,000 meters, she set new personal bests in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters indoors. Notably, Miller won the 3,000 meters at the Yale-Dartmouth-Columbia and Harvard-Yale-Princeton tri-meets, and placed herself fifth all-time for Yale in the 5,000 meters when she finished third overall at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

Most Improved Athlete Award: Sophie Isom

Sophomore Sophie Isom earned this award after setting personal bests in the 60, 200 and 400 meters during her second season with the Bulldogs. In her strongest event, the 400 meters, Isom had set a personal best in February 2020 at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton tri-meet. Following that performance, she lowered her time in both the prelims and finals at the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships, ultimately finishing fourth overall in the event.

Outstanding First-Year Award: Abrianna Barrett

Abrianna Barrett earned status as this year's outstanding first year after a dominant season in the high jump. Barrett competed with a calmness and confidence that few first years display. She won her first collegiate competition at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton tri-meet and continued excelling from there. At the Ivy League Indoor Track and Field Championships, Barrett not only finished fourth in the conference as a rookie, but also set a new personal best and sits tied for fourth all-time in the event for Yale.