Presentation to Sheila Reid At The PSWA Awards Banquet

February 3, 2012 phillycollegesports Big East, Track and Field, Villanova 0

The text of the presentation to Sheila Reid as Amatuer Athlete of the Year at the Philadelphia Sportswriters Banquet on January 30, 2012.  The award was presented by Glenn Papazian from Philly College Sports.com.

Sheila Reid – Amateur Athlete of the Year 

Last year we honored Sheila Reid as our Amateur Athlete of the Year for all that she accomplished.  This past season Sheila Reid had an even better year, and for that we again honor her as our Amateur Athlete of the Year.  Reid won individual national titles in three races, was on a relay championship, and received academic awards.

Sheila defended her national championship at the NCAA Cross Country meet.  In doing so she became the third Villanova woman and the sixth overall to win multiple individual titles at national championships.  She was named the US Track and Field National Athlete of the Year by the Coaches Association, and was the Mid-Atlantic Regional Athlete of the Year.

At the NCAA Championship Outdoor Track meet, Sheila won the individual national title in the 1500 Meter and the 5000 Meter races becoming the first woman to double up winning both of those events in the same NCAA meet.

She was the anchor runner for Villanova’s Indoor national champion Distance Medley Relay team.

Sheila Reid is an award winner in academics in addition to athletics.  The Newmarket, Ontario native was named the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year in Cross Country, and was a first team recipient of the Baller Academic Momentum Award.

Quite a season, quite a season!

If the past is any indicator, Sheila Reid has more championships and honors in her future.

One wonders what this five time national champion,  eleven time All-American, twelve time Big East champion, and Honda Award finalist will accomplish In 2012.

We don’t know.

But we do know what means the most to her is being mentioned as another of the great Villanova runners that came before her.  For Sheila it has always been about team and school – or as she puts it – bringing it home for Nova.

I present our Amateur Athlete of the Year – Villanova University’s Sheila Reid.