NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sasha Mathelier (Freeport, N.Y.) of the women’s indoor track and field team and John Brinley (East Hartford, Conn.) of the men’s indoor track and field team have been named as Southern Connecticut State University Athletes of the Month for February. Both student-athletes were instrumental in helping their respective teams capture the 2008 Northeast-10 Conference Championship during the month.
Mathelier earned Most Outstanding Performer honors at the conference championships. She set a new conference record in the pole vault and also posted a pair of second place finishes in the high jump and 55 meter hurdles.
In addition, she also placed third in the pole vault at the New England Championships – and was the top non-Division I finisher in that event.
Earlier in the month, Mathelier also captured the pole vault at the Wesleyan Cardinal Invitational and was second in the event at the Geigengack Invitational at Yale University.
Brinley continued to stake a claim as one of the top field athletes in the region during the month of February. He took home both the Northeast-10 and New England titles in the weight throw. At the conference meet, Brinley’s throw of 59 feet, one-half inch was a new league record. At New England’s, Brinley bested that mark with a personal-best throw of 60 feet, two inches.
He also finished first in the weight throw at the Wesleyan Cardinal Invitational and was second at the Lafayette-Rider Invitational. Brinley, who was also named ECAC and Northeast-10 Field Athlete of the Week on Feb. 20-21, also took fourth place in the weight throw at the Geigengack Invitational at Yale University.