Feb. 18, 2009
KENNESAW, Ga. -
Sophomore Gianni Catalano, finished up the Indoor regular season strong, placing first in the 800m dash at the Tiger Paw Invitational on February 13 at Clemson, to earn himself his second Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week Award this year.
"It is another well deserved honor," Head Coach Don McGarey said. "Gianni has had a fantastic Indoor season. It is always exciting to see how he is going to top his last performance."
Just two weeks prior, Catalano had taken first in the seeded 800m at the Niswonger Invitational hosted by East Tennessee State, crossing the line with a time of 1:52.32, to set a new Kennesaw State record for an oversized track, while also recording the top time in the conference. With the effort, Catalano received his first Athlete of the Week award of the Indoor Season.
Last weekend at Clemson, Catalano was almost as impressive, winning the 800m again, this time with a time of 1:54.18, to set another new Owls' record. The record was previously owned by Catalano's teammate, James Verdi, who set it after placing third at the UNC Invitational with a time of 1:54.40.
"Clemson was the first race that I got to compete against James, and just that knowledge gave me the incentive to race even harder," Catalano said. "We enjoy competing against each other. He had a hard double. If he hadn't of just raced in the 400 we would probably have finished together. I wish I could share this award with him."
Catalano and the Owls will return to action when they compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships hosted by East Tennessee State University, this weekend, on February 20-21.
