HYANNIS, Mass. -- The University of New England women's cross country team was presented with the inaugural Scotty Whitelaw Sportsmanship Award this evening at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Honors Dinner held at the Resort and Conference Center of Hyannis.

The award -- named after former ECAC Commissioner Robert M. "Scotty" Whitelaw -- exemplifies positive traits in intercollegiate sports and honors student-athletes for their virtues such as fairness, integrity, selflessness, respect, and a sense of fellowship with opponents.

Members of the UNE women's cross country team came to the aid of a stricken competitor at last year's ECAC Championship (Nov. 6, 2010) held at Colt State Park in Bristol, R.I. By doing so, they sacrificed their own personal times, but did end up finishing the race. (Click here for related story).

In his remarks during the awards ceremony, Interim Director of Athletics Curt Smyth praised the UNE student-athletes for "sacrificing personal accomplishment to come to the aid of a stricken competitor -- the ultimate act of sportsmanship."

On hand to accept the award on behalf of the team were seniors Jess Partlow (Hopkinton, N.H.) and Heather Pederson (Woolwich, Maine), junior Lindsay Forrette (Chicopee, Mass.), head coach Ron Ouellette, and assistant coach Jerry Mullin.