Fresno State Athletics
Torch of Excellence Dinner to Honor Western Athletic Conference Stan Bates Nominees
 |  Senior Kara June of the women's cross country and track and field teams, along with senior Trevor Chatterton of the men's track and field team, are this year's nominees for the WAC's Stan Bates Award. |
April 26, 2004
Fresno, Calif. - Western Athletic Conference Stan Bates nominees Kara June and Trevor Chatterton of Fresno State will be amongst those honored at tonight's Kiwanis Torch of Excellence Dinner at the Radisson Hotel Convention Center in downtown Fresno. To be nominated for the annual conference award, student-athletes must have a cumulative Fresno State GPA of 3.0 or better, in their final year of eligibility in the WAC and recommended for their qualities as a student, athlete and as a person.
June, a member of the women's cross country and track & field teams, will be the 'Dogs' female nominee for the conference award. A three-time WAC champion in the steeplechase, June was also Fresno State's lone representative at the 2003 NCAA Championships after notching a personal-best and school record time of 10:25.47 in the event. The senior distance runner out of Santa Maria, Calif., also garnered first team All-WAC honors in 2003, an honor last achieved by a Fresno State female in 1997. In 2001, June became the USATF Junior National Champion in the 2000-meter steeplechase. June, a liberal studies major was also named a Fresno State scholar-athlete in 2000, 2001 and 2002 for her academic accomplishments.
Chatterton, a senior decathlon athlete on the men's track and field team, will be the male nominee. A Fresno State scholar-athlete in 2003, Chatterton was the WAC champion in the decathlon in 2003. The senior liberal studies major was second on the squad in both the 400-meter hurdles and high jump as a junior. Out of Concord, Calif., Chatterton currently ranks second on the team in five events, including the 100 meters, high jump, long jump, triple jump and javelin.
The two Bulldogs are part of the 267 student-athletes that will be present at tonight's dinner sponsored by the Fresno-Madera Kiwanis Clubs of District 7. Tonight's event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6:30 p.m., where KMPH 26 sports director, Ralph Wood, will serve as the emcee.