May 23, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Seniors Bobby Curtis and Frances Koons were named the 2008 Villanova Student-Athletes of the Year, announced Thursday May 15 at the annual senior student-athlete banquet. The banquet was held in the Connelly Center on Villanova's campus. Curtis and Koons are both standout track athletes and captains who have helped guide their teams to success.

Curtis has made a name for himself in both track and field and cross country. Curtis is coming off of back-to-back BIG EAST Outdoor titles in the 5,000m. He was named the 2008 Most Outstanding Track Athlete of the BIG EAST Indoor Championships and is a six-time conference champion. Curtis was the 2007 NCAA runner-up in the 5,000m with a personal-best 13:39.88 and won the event at the 2007 NCAA East Regionals. He has run a sub-four minute mile turning in a time of 3:57.20, and is a six-time All-American. Curtis has also qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 1,500 meter run.

Koons made a triumphant comeback for the 2008 outdoor track season following a battle with cancer that kept her out of the cross country and indoor track season. She was named the 2008 Most Outstanding Track Athlete of the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships following titles in the 1,500m and 5,000m. She is a seven-time overall BIG EAST champion. Throughout her years as a Wildcat, Koons has proven to make a name in both track and cross country. She was the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Region Cross Country Athlete of the Year and the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year in 2007. Koons also earned the title of Most Outstanding Track Athlete at the 2007 BIG EAST Indoor Championships. She has qualified to the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 1,500 meter run.

Both Curtis and Koons continue with their stellar track seasons and will run in the NCAA East Regionals held in Tallahassee, Fla. beginning May 30.