Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Track and Field	Women's Track and Field SIUE Athletics

Dave Astrauskas

March 14, 2008 Astrauskas Selected National Coach of the Year           MANKATO, Minn. – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's track and field coach David Astrauskas was selected the women's National Coach of the Year by a vote of his peers.           The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the award Friday before the beginning of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Mankato, Minn.           Astrauskas said he was shocked to receive the honor and considered it an award for the whole coaching staff.           "It takes all three of us to accomplish this. Coach (Ben) Beyers and Coach (Eileen) McAllister do a great job of getting their athletes ready," said Astrauskas.           The SIUE women's track and field team won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships for the fifth consecutive season. SIUE nearly tripled the number of points of the second-place team at the 2008 GLVC Championships. The Cougars also qualified nine individuals for the national meet, which runs through Saturday.           The voting was completed at the national championships with votes coming from coaches who attended the meet.                   -siue cougars-