Contact: David O Brian ([email protected])

VESTAL, N.Y. Junior middle distance runner Jesse Garn and freshman sprinter Jon Alkins have both been honored by the America East Conference for their performances at the recent indoor track championships. Garn was named the men s Most Outstanding Track Performer of the meet while Alkins was named the meet s top men s rookie. In addition, the Bearcats also had the men s Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.

Garn won the 1000 and anchored the winning distance medley relay during the indoor conference meet, which was held Feb. 23-24 at the New York City Armory. He is the third Bearcat in the last five years to earn the men s top indoor award. Cazal Arnett was honored in 2010 and Erik van Ingen was the recipient in 2011.

This award marks the latest accomplishment during a spectacular month for Garn. He also ran in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games Feb. 15, broke four minutes in the mile (3:59.33) on March 2 and anchored the winning 4 x 800 relay team at this weekend s ECAC/IC4A Championships.

Alkins, meanwhile, won the 200 and was the runner up in the 60 at the America East Championships. This marks the second consecutive year that a Binghamton athlete has been named the indoor meet s top men’s rookie. Current sophomore Temi Bajulaiye earned the award last year.

Head coach Mike Thompson and his staff includes assistants Annette Acuff, Gabe Fletcher and Adam Helman. Binghamton, which shared this year s award with Albany, also had the conference s top men s indoor track staff in 2008 and 2011.

“This has been a great indoor season for both our men’s and women’s teams and we are very happy for Jesse and Jon,” Thompson said. “Both of them ran really well at the conference meet.”

Binghamton was the runner up on both the men s and women s side at the America East Indoor Championships. The Bearcat men have placed second in six of the last seven indoor seasons. The women, meanwhile, were runner up for the first time during the indoor campaign. They were also second at last year’s conference outdoor championships, which was hosted by Binghamton.