MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) released the 2022 SSAC Women's Outdoor Track and Field award winners on Tuesday, May 3, highlighted by Mobile Head Coach Andy Canegitta and freshman Fedra Florentin. After leading the Rams to back-to-back conference championships during the 2022 season, head coach Andy Canegitta was named the SSAC Women's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year for the second-straight year. Canegitta is in his seventh season with Mobile and has earned three conference coach of the year honors, the first coming in 2017.
For Fedra Florentin, the freshman from Uruguay took home the SSAC Women's Outdoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year honor, sweeping the award during both the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons in the SSAC. At the outdoor track and field conference championship this year, Florentin set the conference championship record in the women's shot put event with a mark of 13.77 meters. The previous record of 12.43 meters was set back in 2013. The new record that Florentin set also smashed the National U23 record and school record at Mobile. Additionally, Florentin was awarded the SSAC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week honor twice in her first season as a Ram and managed to qualify in the shot put event for the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in late May.
Mobile also saw 17 members of the University of Mobile Women's Outdoor Track and Field program selected to all-conference teams in this year's awards. To be selected to a outdoor track and field all-conference team, student-athletes must make the podium at the conference championship. All Mobile student-athletes selected, with their event, is listed below.
SSAC First-Team All-Conference Selections
SSAC Second-Team All-Conference Selections
SSAC Third-Team All-Conference Selections
The SSAC also released the Barnes & Noble College Women's Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Team on Tuesday, with five Rams excelling in the classroom during the 2021-22 academic year and being named to the team. Those honored on this season's all-academic team are listed below.
Finally, Shawnessy Edwards was named to the SSAC Women's Outdoor Track and Field Champions of Character Team this year for displaying the best sportsmanship on and off the track and field.
Overall, a total of 17 Rams from both the men's outdoor track and field team and women's outdoor track and field team at Mobile have already qualified for the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships this year, with 12 coming from the women's team alone.
Mobile has one remaining meet on the 2022 schedule (Carey Last Chance) prior to the national championships and it is scheduled for Friday, May 13 in Hattiesburg, Miss. The meet will be the final opportunity for additional Rams to qualify for NAIA Nationals.
Mobile Rams to Qualify for 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Nationals (thus far):
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted, and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions, and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
