Elon University senior Luis Vargas was named the Colonial Athletic Association men's cross country Athlete of the Year as voted on by the coaches, the league announced Dec. 10.
Vargas capped off an incredible season which saw him become Elon’s first ever All-American cross country runner after his 25th-place finish at the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship. His time of 30:45 for the 10K race was the only race of the entire season that Vargas failed to finish in first place.
Vargas went an astonishing six for six in all other races that he participated in throughout the year that resulted in a first-place finish.
Other accolades for the runner included a NCAA Southeast Regional Championship for 30:05:78 finish in another 10K race, an honor that saw Vargas ultimately win the Southeast Regional Athlete of the Year award as well.
Among the races the Vargas won included the Elon Invitational, the Adidas Cross Country Challenge, the Notre Dame Invitational and the NCAA Pre-National Invitational.
Vargas also now holds the Elon school record for time in an 8K race after a 24:11:37 finish in the CAA Men’s Cross Country Championship.
Joining Vargas on the All-CAA team is senior Ari Rotchschild after his fifth-place finish at the CAA championship with a final time of 25:12:28. Rotchschild will also be representing the Phoenix as a member of the CAA All-Academic Team.
Four members of the Elon women’s cross-country team were also honored as All-CAA. Junior Elyse Bierut, senior Jenny Gallagher, sophomore Kimberly Johanson and senior Tereza Novotna all earned honors after their respective showings at the CAA Championships.
2014 ALL-CAA Men’s Cross Country Team Zachary Fraielli, Northeastern Sr. Providence, R.I. Ryan Gousse, William & Mary Jr. Apopka, Fla. Mac Haight, William & Mary Fr. Vienna, Va. Nathaniel Hermsmeier, William & Mary Jr. Charlottesville, Va. Christopher Hoyle, William & Mary Fr. Oak Hill, Va. Mackenzie Johnston, College of Charleston Sr. Hilton Head, S.C. Zach Krause, Northeastern Sr. Bohemia, N.Y. Ari Rothschild, Elon Sr. Highland Park, Ill. Faris Sakallah, William & Mary So. Chantilly, Va. Trevor Sleight, William & Mary So. Asheville, N.C. Stephen Sollowin, Northeastern Sr. Weymouth, Mass. Luis Vargas, Elon Sr. Angier, N.C.
2014 CAA Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year: Luis Vargas, Elon 2014 CAA Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Year: MacKenzie Haight, William & Mary 2014 CAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year: Stephen Walsh, William & Mary
2014 CAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
William Bunch, UNCW Jr. Chapel Hill, N.C. Charles Conway, Northeastern Sr. Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Jack Finlayson, Hofstra So. Orillia, Ontario, Canada Ari Rothschild, Elon Sr. Highland Park, Ill. Christian Ruppe, College of Charleston So. Fort Mill, S.C. Trevor Sleight, William & Mary So. Asheville, N.C.
2014 ALL-CAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
Elyse Bierut, Elon Jr. Rocky River, Ohio
Dylan Hassett, William & Mary Sr. Alpharetta, Ga.
Carolyn Hennessey, William & Mary Jr. Herndon, Va.
Kimberly Johansen, Elon So. Chelmsford, England
Meghan McGovern, William & Mary Jr. North Wales, Pa.
Tessa Mundell, James Madison So. Mohnton, Pa.
Tereza Novotna, Elon Sr. Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Jordan O'Dea, Northeastern So. Yarmouth, Mass.
Regan Rome, William & Mary Fr. Dallas, Pa.
Kathleen Stewart, James Madison Jr. Holland, Pa.
Lucy Young, Northeastern So. Brisbane, Australia
2014 CAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Elyse Bierut, Elon Jr. Rocky River, Ohio
Cara Butcher, College of Charleston So. North Massapequa, N.Y.
Becky Celorio, Hofstra Jr. Scotia, N.Y.
Sarah Goodnight, UNCW So. Salisbury, N.C.
Ilana Schnaufer, Delaware So. Rochester, N.Y.
Ashley Simmons, Towson Sr. Fishing Creek, Md.
Kathleen Stewart, James Madison Jr. Holland, Pa.
Emily Stites, William & Mary Jr. Wyoming, Ohio
Lucy Young, Northeastern So. Brisbane, Australia