March 10, 2010

New Orleans, La. - Revered Naval Academy distance coach Al Cantello has been recognized as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross County Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year, the organization announced.

Cantello was among 72 athletes, assistant coaches and head coaches that received regional awards for their efforts during the 2010 NCAA's Division I indoor track & field season as voted by the nation's coaches. The Mid-Atlantic region consists of 31 men's track programs, included among them are Bucknell, Georgetown, Maryland, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Temple and Villanova.

After 46 years at the Naval Academy, Cantello continues to bring out the best in his athletes. Cantello-coached athletes won Patriot League titles in the 1,000 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and distance medley relay and produced 58 points in five events to help Navy earn a third-place conference finish. Junior distance standout Andrew Hanko (Montville, N.J.) also was named the Patriot League Championship's Track-Athlete of the Meet, just the fourth Navy athlete to earn the honor.

At last weekend's IC4A Championships in Boston, four Navy distance runners, including two-time honoree Dominic Della Pelle (So./Kennett Square, Pa.), earned All-East honors helping the Mids to produce 28 team points, the most of any Patriot League school, and snag an eighth-place finish at the regional meet.

Cantello's fall cross country team also enjoyed success this past year, as Navy won the Patriot League Championship for the second-straight year and first time outright. Led by Hanko, the Mids' first Patriot League Runner of the Year since joining the conference in 2003, Navy captured the N-Star for the 10th time in 13 years and finished fourth at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Championship. For his team's efforts, Cantello was named the Patriot League Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.

The Navy men's track team will return to action on Saturday, March 20 when it begins its outdoor slate in San Diego at the Point Loma Invitational.