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Robinson, Stevens, Taylor, Gomez Named to Division II Athlete Hall of Fame

Class of 2012

March 30, 2012

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Friday that the association will induct four new members to their Division II Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame. Mark Robinson (Catholic), Kendall Stevens (Findlay/Saint Augustine’s), Sherlese Taylor Cannon (Saint Augustine’s), and Zoila Gomez (Adams State) will be recognized during an induction ceremony on Wednesday, May 23, in Pueblo, Colo., held in conjunction with the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.

Mark Robinson – The Catholic University of America

Robinson was the NCAA Division II 800-meter champion in 1974 and 1975 and was a five-time USTFCCCA All-American in the division. Robinson also earned three All-American honors in Division I where DII champions participated. Robinson claimed school records of 1:46.0 in the 800 and 4:07.6 in the mile while at CUA.

After college, Robinson raced professionally before turning to coaching. Robinson coached at Catholic for 27 years and was the squad’s head coach for 13 seasons. He currently is the Training and Curriculum Manager for NeighborWorks America, a national community development organization based in Washington D.C. In addition, Robinson has continued coaching as he is the head coach at The Crossroads School.

Kendall Stevens – University of Findlay / Saint Augustine’s College

Stevens was a four-time NCAA Division II Champion, combining accolades indoors and out. Stevens swept the 60-meter, 100-meter indoor-outdoor sprint crowns in 2006 with Findlay. The next season, Stevens would win the 100-meter title again as a member of the Saint Augustine’s squad. The Saint Aug’s 4x400 would also win the outdoor title in 2007 with Stevens as the anchor. All told, Stevens was an 11-time USTFCCCA All-America honoree which includes four years of being a national scorer in the 60 meters.

In his post-collegiate days, Stevens has competed in many USATF Championships. He placed third indoors in the 60 in 2009 with a personal-best time of 6.56. Stevens participated in the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 100 meters and is training for this year’s trials as well.

Sherlese (Taylor) Cannon – Saint Augustine’s College

Cannon swept Division II indoor-outdoor crowns in the sprint hurdle events at NCAA Championships in 1994. That year, Cannon would set a then-NCAA-meet record of 7.67 in taking the 55-meter hurdle title indoors and clocked 13.37 in the 100 hurdles outdoors for the national crown. Cannon was a four-time USTFCCCA All-American and ranks eighth all-time in the division with a 100-meter hurdle time of 13.29.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Cannon finished fourth overall and as the first collegian at the 1994 USATF Championships. Cannon currently resides in Dallas, Texas, where she is coaching and teaching at Bryan Adams High School.

Zoila Gomez – Adams State College

Gomez won six NCAA Division II crowns while at Adams State, capturing titles in distance events ranging from the mile to 10,000 meters. Indoors, Gomez won the mile and 5000 meters at the 2002 national championships and followed-up with another 5000 title in 2004. Outdoors, Gomez won the 5000-10k double in 2004, adding to an additional 10k outdoor crown won in her freshman year of 2001. Gomez was the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year.

A ten-time RMAC Champion, Gomez was named to the conference’s Women’s All-Time Track and Field Team and was a 2009 inductee into the Adams State Athlete Hall of Fame.

Post-collegiately, Gomez placed fourth at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and was 33rd in the 2012 trials. Born and raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Gomez became a U.S. citizen in 2006. When not training full-time in Alamosa, Colo., home to Adams State, she has an after-school tutoring program, participates in speaking engagements throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and volunteers regularly with In the Arena, a non-profit organization that anchors the highest-caliber role models in underserved communities with the aim of effecting positive and lasting change in today's youth.

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Tom Lewis

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association

Communications Manager

1100 Poydras St., Suite 1750

New Orleans, LA 70163

(O) 504-599-8904 (F) 504-599-8909

Email: tom@ustfccca.org

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