Fredonia senior distance runner Kristen Guarino (Bergen/Byron-Bergen) is the SUNYAC Elite 20 Award winner for women's indoor track and field.
A Childhood Education major, Guarino had a 4.0 grade-point average in the fall semester and has a cumulative average of 3.94. She is a member of the Rotaract Club, the Golden Key International Honour Society, and Tau Sigma Honor Society. The daughter of Nancy and VInce Guarino, she was also a member of the women's cross country team. She attended music school at the Young Americans College of Performing Arts prior to transferring to Fredonia.
"Kristen is a very unique athlete," Fredonia Track and Field Head Coach Tom Wilson said. "She has already finished college on the west coast, and has decided to further her education here at Fredonia. Adding her passion of running into her already crazy schedule. She is a very dedicated student athlete, works extremely hard both in and out of the classroom. She is very deserving of this award."
Guarino is the second Fredonian to receive an Elite 20 award, created this year by SUNYAC to honor the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average competing at the finals site of each of its 20 championships. It is modeled after the NCAA ELITE 90 program, which recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
Leanne Hofstead (Liverpool), a Fredonia senior women's tennis player, was named as a SUNYAC Fall Sports winner when the first round of awards were announced last week.
