Fortugno Earns West Region Track Athlete Of The Year Honors

Senior Marcus Fortugno has been named Division III West Region Track Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Friday.

With the selection, Fortugno earns USTFCCCA West Region Track Athlete of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.

Named the 2012 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Year earlier this week, Fortugno was the SCIAC Champion in both the 200 and 400 meters this season while also anchoring La Verne's conference-winning 4×400 meter relay team. 

His season best time of 47.39 in the 400 meters ranks second in NCAA Division III this season.  In addition, he set both a school and SCIAC Championship meet record in the 200 meters with a time of 21.31.  He also set a personal best in the 100 meters with a time of 10.76 which stands .003 off the La Verne school record. 

Fortugno was named USTFCCA West Region Track Athlete of the Year last season en route to earning a second place finish in the 400 meters and third place finish in the 200 at the 2011 NCAA Championships.

A three-time All-American, Fortugno will be competing at next week's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Claremont May 24-26.