Crimson & Gray Awards | 

INDIANA, Pa. – Distance runner Dalton Trump (Lancaster, Pa. /J.P. McCaskey) has been named the 2016-17 IUP Men's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. The award was announced on Thursday, June 8 by the IUP Athletic Department.
 
The award is part of the newly established Crimson & Gray Awards, which recognize the top athletes, coaches, teams and performances of the IUP Athletics season.
 
The Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Award is in its first year of existence.
 
Trump put together back-to-back successful track & field seasons, earning All-Atlantic Region honors in the indoor mile and the outdoor 3000 meter steeplechase this year.
 
Competing mostly during the fall cross country prior to this year, Trump, a junior, qualified for the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Championships in the mile, 3000 meters, and as part of the distance medley relay. A first-time PSAC Championship scorer, he finished eighth in the mile and ran the anchor leg of the fourth place DMR.
 
His top mile time of 4:19.97 at the Kent State Tune-Up was the fifth fastest of any PSAC runner in the winter.
 
Trump seamlessly transitioned to the outdoor season, hitting a PSAC qualifying mark in the 3000 steeplechase at the season-opening Cal U Early Bird – the first time he had ever competed in the event collegiately. He went on to finish second overall at the 2017 PSAC Outdoor Championships, although his best outing came at the Bison Outdoor Classic, where he ran a personal best time of 9:16.27, the fourth fastest in the Atlantic Region. Trump also scored in the 5000 meters at PSACs, finishing eighth.
 
Up next
The 2016-17 IUP Men's and Women's Postseason Performers of the Year will be announced Monday, June 12.
 
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