2018 All-RMAC Release

COLORADO SPRINGS – The Colorado School of Mines Men's Track and Field trio of Luke Julian, Connor McLean and Matt Sparks earned RMAC Indoor Freshman of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year honors Thursday as the conference unveiled its major awards for the indoor track and field season.
 
Julian raced to Freshman of the Year honors as he claimed Second-Team All-RMAC honors in the mile run and as the lead leg of the distance medley relay. The freshman finished fifth in the mile run at the 2018 RMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in a time of 4:23.73. He also ran the first leg on Mines' distance medley relay team that claimed second at the RMAC Championships. Julian qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in the mile with his time of 4:04.40 (converted from 4:15.84) posted at the Mines D-II Invite & Multi Jan. 27.
 
McLean claimed Field Athlete of the Year distinction thanks to record-breaking performances in the pole vault and heptathlon. The redshirt sophomore broke the program record in the pole vault with a mark of 5.20 meters (17-0.75) while competing in the heptathlon at the Mines D-II Invite & Multi Jan. 26. His mark in the pole vault ranks third in NCAA Division II this season. McLean also shattered the program record in the heptathlon at the same meet with a score of 5398 (converted from 5358), the No. 7 mark in DII. At the RMAC Championships, McLean finished fourth in the pole vault (4.92 meters/16-1.75), seventh in the long jump (6.93 meters/22-9.0) and 10th in the 60-meter hurdles (8.45). He will compete at the national meet in the heptathlon and pole vault.
 
Sparks earned Men's Indoor Coach of the Year for the second time in his career after leading Mines' men to the 2018 RMAC Indoor Track and Field title. It marks the Oredigger's second title in the last three years. Under Sparks, the Mines men's team was ranked No. 1 in the country in the USTFCCCA National Poll for four straight weeks. A total of 15 men (plus alternates) qualified for the national meet with six automatic qualifying marks including two automatic times in the distance medley relay.
 
Sparks and the Orediggers seek their first national title March 10-11 at the NCAA Division Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Pittsburg, Kan. on the campus of Pittsburg State University.

Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.