Delaware Track & Field, Cross Country Runner Steve Vincent Earns CAA Randolph Inspiration Award
May 19, 2011
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At Right: CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager (l) & Steve Vincent (Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell)
• Colonial Athletic Association Feature
RICHMOND, Va. -- University of Delaware senior Steve Vincent (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) has been selected as the winner of the 2011 John H. Randolph Inspiration Award by the Colonial Athletic Association.
The award recognizes individuals who through strength of character and human spirit serve as an inspiration to all to maximize their potential and ability for success. It is named after former William & Mary athletic director John Randolph, who lost a courageous battle with cancer in 1995.
“Steve worked out at a very high level, many weeks covering more than 100 miles per week,” said Delaware head coach Jim Fischer, who coached Vincent all four years in both cross country and track & field. “Except for an injury, Steve would have challenged for an NCAA meet slot in both cross country and track & field this year. We couldn’t be more proud of Steve for what he has been able to overcome. He is an outstanding runner and a vital member of the team.”
Vincent, who is a three-year letterwinner in cross country and a four-year letterwinner in outdoor track and field for the Blue Hens, was diagnosed with generalized epilepsy in September, 2006. He was prescribed medication to help control his disease, but still suffered through seizures once every three to four months for the next four years.
Vincent had multiple seizures in classes while taking tests and also had seizures in the middle of training runs. The seizures left Vincent drained and dazed for several days afterwards and caused him to miss several races while at UD, but he continued a rigorous training regimen.
Frustrated by the lack of improvement in his condition, Vincent and his family recently sought a second medical opinion. His new doctor found that his previous medication was actually making his seizures worse and more severe, and prescribed a new drug that will hopefully completely control the seizures in the future.
Despite his illness, Vincent developed into one of Delaware’s top distance runners and was a co-captain of the cross country team in 2010. He recorded five career top 20 finishes in cross country, highlighted by a first-place performance at the Delaware Cross Country Invitational last September. In track and field, he won the 3,000-meter run at the 2010 Delaware Open and was a member of a 4 x 1,500 meter relay squad that achieved the second-best time in school history.
“I am extremely honored to earn this award,” said Vincent. “Throughout my time at UD I have had multiple seizures in classes while taking tests and have also had multiple seizures while in the middle of a run. I have been extremely lucky that in all of these cases, I have been with teammates and never alone. I am very fortunate to have a coach and teammates who understand my situation and handle it so well.”
Vincent is on track to graduate later this month with a degree in environmental engineering and a minor in civil engineering. He has been a member of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.
CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager presented Vincent with the Randolph Award Monday night as part of Delaware’s annual awards banquet.
Vincent is the fourth University of Delaware student-athlete to receive the Randolph Award since joining the Blue Hens joined the CAA in 2002. Softball player Mandy Welch, who earned All-CAA honors despite an 80 percent loss, earned the award in 2002, tennis player Julia Shapiro, who became a four-year lertterwinner despite being stricken with Multiple Sclerosis as a freshman, earned the award in 2005, and cross country and track distance runner Kevin DuPrey, who battled Lyme disease for much of his career, was the winner in 2006.
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