The Wolfpacker

78 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY BRUCE WINKWORTH A t times last spring, Jonathan Ad- dison, now a senior, seemed like a one-man scoring machine for the NC State men's track and field teams. Addison scored points in three events at both the ACC indoor and outdoor cham- pionship meets, winning the outdoor league title in the high jump and then earning All- America honors in the same event. He was named both the 2015 ACC Indoor Field Co-MVP and the Outdoor Field Per- former of the Year. Of course, the notion that Addison was a one-man band is an exaggeration. Still, if one person is going to be the face of your pro- gram, there is no better choice than Addison, who epitomizes the idea of a true student- athlete. In addition to the aforementioned exploits on the track, Addison is a three-time All-ACC Academic team selection, a 2015 Capitol One Academic All-District team per- former and a member of the 2014 USTF- CCCA All-Academic team. "When you talk about our track and field program, my first thought on the men's side is Jonathan Addison," Wolfpack head coach Rollie Geiger said. "He had an incredible year last year, and he's an incredible young man. "He's the cornerstone of our program, a terrific student, and a local kid from Enloe High School right down the street," Geiger continued. "That was a good day for NC State when he decided to come here." This year, Addison should have company on the podium while NC State looks to make a step forward in track and field. Senior Gra- ham Crawford is healthy and should be a national contender in the 1,500 meters. He earned second-team All-America honors with a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, then ran a 3:38.49 at the Portland Twilight — missing Ryan Hill's school record by 0.13 seconds. ■ PREVIEW MEN'S TRACK & FIELD ■ Key Meets Raleigh Relays, March 25-26, Paul Derr Track — There's no place like home, and NC State's annual showcase event has proven historically to be a great place for athletes to turn in qualifying marks for regionals and nationals. Penn Relays, April 28-30, Philadelphia — One of the nation's flagship collegiate track events, the Penn Relays snuggle into the schedule two weeks prior to the ACC Championships, giving athletes a solid chal- lenge before embarking on the postseason. ACC Outdoor Championships, May 13-15, Tallahassee, Fla. — Individual and team conference championships are the baseline goal for any NC State program, but the conference meet also is the last chance for athletes to qualify for NCAA regionals. Elevating HIGHER Senior Jonathan Addison's Jumping And Sprinting Lead The Way For The Pack Addison, a senior, was named the 2015 ACC Indoor Field Co-MVP and Outdoor Field Performer of the Year. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE SPORTS INFORMATION

• Cover