Stewart Jones,Olivia Lent Sweep WVIAC Track Athlete of the Year - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

Stewart Jones and OliviaLent swept the WVIAC Track Athlete of the Year Awards as announced by the league's office.

"Stew and Olivia are very deserving of this honor," HeadCoach Ricky Moore stated. "Both worked extremely hard all year (off season and season), and as a result, performed at a very high level."

Jones, a junior from Weirton,W.Va. flew to a seventh place finish in the3,000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Track and Field National Championships in Pueblo, Colo.He crossed the finish line at 9:19.95 for his seventh-place finish. For his effort, he not only scored two points for the Cardinals at the meet, but also garnered All-American accolades.

Prior to the national meet, Jones earned all-region honors in two events, the 3,000 meter steeplechase and the 5,000 meter run. He earned the fastest time recorded by a WVIAC athlete and posted a WJU school record of8:56.60 in the steeplechase. He won the steeplechase at the WVIAC Championship,and currently holds the steeplechase meet record with a time of 9:14.07. Jones scored points for the 3,000 meter steeplechase, 5,000 meter run, 1,500 meter run and the indoor mile run.

"This Award just adds to an outstanding year for Stew," Moore remarked. "I just can't say enough about his passion, drive and work ethic which shapes his personality and good heart."

Lent had a phenomenal 2012 campaign. The junior from Zanesville, Ohio set multiple school records on her way to an all-region bid for the 400 meter dash. She set the 400 meter standard of 55.51 at the Campbell Wright Open. Lent won four conference championships at the WVIAC meet and earned the meet's MVPAward. She currently holds WJU records in the 200 and 400 meter dashes and is a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams, who established the school standard multiple times throughout the year.

"Olivia was on a mission this year. She dedicated herself to become faster and did everything which was required to so," said Moore. "She put in a lot of extra time to compete at this level with weight room and nutrition regiment."

Moore finished by saying, "In the future, I hope both athletes can continue to improve and strive for better personal times."