Head coach Lon Nelson has announced the award winners for the 2003 Albert Lea High School boys’ track and field team.

The Most Valuable Award went to senior Tyler Young. He was the Big Nine discus champion.

Sean Harms, a junior, received the Most Improved Award.

Junior Mike Veldman received an award for topping 50 feet in the shot put.

Named captains for next year were Harms, Veldman and Taylor Zimmerman.

The Tigers had 25 letterwinners this past season, 20 of them underclassmen.

They included seniors Young, Matt Olsen, Chris Jackson, Jason Kuipers and Thomas Munden, juniors Harms, Veldman, Zimmerman, Josh Wilke, Joe Squires, Jordan Neve and Aaron Cook, sophomores Nate Lombardi, Trent Miller, Andrew Irvine, Logan Schallock, Lionel Thomas, Cory Kuipers, Dustin Andrews, Andrew Stapleton and Jon Friday, freshmen

Jordan Nolander, Corey Berggren and Josh Anderson, and eighth-grader Levi Budd.

Coach Nelson challenged the returning athletes, saying, &uot;Your work is just beginning. Mankato East won the state meet and Mankato West finished in second place. Our conference is powerful, and you need to work hard this summer on weights and conditioning.&uot;