BOSTON – For the fourth consecutive season, the University at Albany has been bestowed with the America East's highest individual honor.  Adrian Mitchell, a javelin thrower on the men's track & field team, has been named America East Man of the Year for the 2020-21 season.
 
"I am grateful and honored to be chosen for such a prestigious award," said Mitchell.  "It is fulfilling to know that all that I have been a part of and all that I have accomplished has been recognized by my athletic department and the America East Conference.  Coming to the U.S. from Jamaica my freshman year, I would not have imaged being the recipient of such an esteemed award.  It is for this reason that I would like to thank my teammates and coaches that pushed and guided me, allowing the little freshman with big dreams to grow and develop not only as a student-athlete but as an individual."
 
Established in 2015, the America East Man of the Year award joined the Woman of the Year award, in existence since 2006, in recognizing the conference's senior male and female student-athlete who has best distinguished himself and herself throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.
 
Eligibility for the Man and Woman of the Year awards requires a prospective student-athlete to have completed intercollegiate eligibility in their primary sport by the end of the 2021 spring season, or to have received their undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2021 term, and hold a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.
 
Mitchell's former teammate, Tara Belinsky, was named America East Woman of the Year for 2018-19, and softball's Kelly Barkevich was awarded the same honor last year.  Mitchell becomes UAlbany's second recipient of the conference's Man of the Year award, following men's lacrosse's Kyle McClancy in 2017-18, and sixth honoree overall.  Volleyball's Ashlee Reed was the inaugural recipient in 2005-06, followed later by women's lacrosse's Nikki Branchini in 2010-11.
 
"From the moment Adrian stepped onto UAlbany's campus his presence was felt in all aspects of the student-athlete experience," said Belinsky.  "As his teammate, I saw first-hand the value he placed on his education while committing fully to being the best thrower and teammate he could be.  While I was a junior when he first came in I constantly found myself learning from him.  He propelled himself into the UAlbany track & field record books with hard work, determination, and mental toughness.  Through the highs and lows, you could always count on him to be right next to you with a smile on his face encouraging whoever was next to him.  He has the rare ability to connect with anyone, from anywhere, and create relationships that are filled with depth, motivation and support."
 
Opposite Mitchell, Stony Brook's Chelsie DePonte from women's soccer was named this year's America East Woman of the Year.  Mitchell was one of three finalists for this year's award, with Stony Brook track & field and cross country's Cameron Avery and UMBC track & field's Andrew Haberman.
 
"We are thrilled Adrian has been named the America East Man of the Year," said UAlbany Director of Athletics Mark Benson.  "Since his arrival on campus, Adrian has been a model ambassador for our program.  His success in track & field is matched only by his commitment to his community, where he proudly represents UAlbany, the America East, and his home country of Jamaica.  As president of our student-athlete advisory committee, Adrian's leadership has ensured our student-athletes' voices are heard on the campus, conference, and national level.
 
"To have had the America East bestow its highest honor upon one of our student-athletes for four consecutive years is truly a remarkable honor," Benson continued.  "It is a testament to the impact our student-athletes have through their hard work and dedication to be Great Leaders, Great Champions, and Great Danes."
 
Mitchell came to UAlbany from Kingston, Jamaica, where he attended track & field powerhouse Calabar Secondary School.  He immediately made his mark on the UAlbany program during his freshman season, winning his first meet as a Great Dane.  His mark of 215-03.00 at the Spring Break Classic in Puerto Rico was the second-best in program history.
 
One month later, after improving his mark to 219-10.00 at the Florida Relays, Mitchell recorded his personal best of 227-02.00.  Later, he placed seventh in the championship division at the Penn Relays, before winning his first of two America East javelin titles.  Mitchell's season continued to NCAA Outdoor Championships, where he placed 14th overall and earned All-America Second Team honors.
 
That same year, Mitchell was crowned the Jamaica national champion in the javelin, winning the event at Jamaica Trials with a mark of 220-04.00.
 
In 2018, Mitchell finished as the runner-up in the javelin at the America East Outdoor Championships, recording his best mark of the season, 217-09.00.  It would be his last meet until 2021, due to injury and the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the 2020 outdoor season.
 
Mitchell's long-awaited return to the track saw him take first place at the USF Bulls Invite with a mark of 221-07.00, his first of four first-place finishes on the season.  He reclaimed his crown as the top javelin thrower in the America East, winning the event at the conference championship for the second time in his career.  Mitchell's season ended at the NCAA East Preliminary Championships, where he placed 18th overall with his second-best mark of the season, 219-06.00.
 
"Adrian has been a very good student and a great athlete becoming an All-American as a freshman as well as winning several America East Conference javelin titles," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Roberto Vives.  "He is an excellent leader who has served as captain of the team and has played a big role in contributing to our championship culture.  Adrian has also served on SAAC and in the America East Conference on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion.  I am extremely proud of him and the contributions he has made to positively impact his team, university and the community."
 
Mitchell plans to continue his career at UAlbany with his final year of eligibility in 2021-22.
 
Away from the track, Mitchell earned his undergraduate degree in Economics with minors in Business and Communications following the Spring 2020 semester.  He is currently pursuing his MBA.  During his career, Mitchell earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors two times.
 
A two-time recipient of the President's Award for Leadership, Mitchell also served as president of the UAlbany chapter of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, representing the university's more than 450 student-athletes.  Additionally, Mitchell was nominated by UAlbany's senior athletics staff and appointed by UAlbany President Dr. Havidán Rodríguez to represent the university as a member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Board.  Finally, Mitchell was the lone male student-athlete selected to represent UAlbany and the America East at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
 
"I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be in SAAC with Adrian and truly admired his level of passion for UAlbany athletics and the overall student-athlete experience," said Belinsky.  "He is constantly learning and seeking opportunities to develop so he can help others and I can think of no better person to represent the America East.  I am so proud of Adrian for being named the 2021 Man of the Year and the lasting legacy he has made at UAlbany."
 
Mitchell's community service ventures include the annual America East Food Frenzy initiative and Danes Dodge Cancer.  He's also involved himself in Team Jamaica Bickle, an organization known for its involvement annually at the Penn Relays, providing Jamaican student-athletes in high school a chance to compete in the prestigious meet by sponsoring their respective schools and providing meals for the teams once they arrive at the meet.  He has also participated in a clean-up of Peebles Island State Park, prepared meals at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, and volunteered at the Eagle Point Elementary after-school program.
 
Having completed internships in marketing and risk management, Mitchell plans to enter the workforce in athletics marketing or athletics development upon completion of his MBA.