CURRENT RECIPIENTS

Lee Emanuel
2009-2010 UNM Male Athlete of the Year

An English native (Hastings), Lee Emanuel has had stellar indoor and outdoor track seasons at UNM, and also stepped up for the team in the most recent cross country season. In 2010, Lee defended his NCAA indoor mile crown, running 3.59.26, becoming the first Lobo to win back to back NCAA titles and helping UNM to a high of 18 points and 8th in the team standings. Lee was 6th at the NCAA outdoor championships, 3.48.61, and triumphed with MWC indoor titles for the mile and 800m and the 1500m outdoors. He also anchored the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) to its first victory at the MWC Championships, upsetting favorite BYU. As a result, Lee has received numerous MWC honors and All-American honors. In fact, he has the most MWC honors in school history (9). Lee was also named MWC indoor athlete of the year.

Many school records have fallen Lee's way, most being his own records from last year. In particular, he broke the outdoor 5000m record with 13.31.56, more than 4 seconds faster than the previous record. Lee also holds the outdoor 1500m record, 3.37.25, and indoor records at 800m 1.50.15, 3000m, 7.51.20, and the mile, 3.57.62. This has all come from an athlete who walked part of his first regional 10km cross country meet! Look how far this athlete has come! Lee is now competing professionally in Europe.

Carolyn Boosey