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Binghamton University Athletics

Annette at Penn Relays

Acuff Named Honorary Referee at Penn Relays

| By: David O'Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)

Longtime distance running coach cited for career accomplishments

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Honors are nothing new for Binghamton distance track coach/head cross country coach Annette Acuff. During her quarter century with the Bearcats, she has racked up coaching awards at the conference and regional level. This past weekend at Penn Relays, however, she earned the unique distinction of being named an honorary referee at the event. 

Each year, Penn Relays recognizes the accomplishments of two high school and two college coaches by appointing them as honorary referees. They are chosen based on how their teams have done at previous Penn Relay events.

During her career at Binghamton, Acuff has coached three Binghamton men and two women to All-America honors. Several of them, including 2024 Olympian Emily Mackay, Jesse Garn and Erik van Ingen excelled at Penn Relays. In addition, Eric Holt - a 2018 alum who has since competed in a pair of U.S. Olympic Trials - also flourished at Penn Relays. Mackay, Holt and 2022 alum Dan Schaffer are currently competing at the professional level.

"I am so honored with the recognition at Penn Relays this year," Acuff said. "I've truly been fortunate to work with many great athletes over the years and it's been an amazing experience to watch our program compete well against some of the best teams in the nation."

The honor at Penn Relays continues a remarkable two years for Acuff. After leading the Binghamton women's cross country team to its first-ever America East title in 2023, she was on hand last June at Hayward Field to watch Mackay qualify for the Paris Olympics in the 1,500.

Through the years, Acuff has been recognized by her peers from the America East Conference as well as the Northeast Region. She has been named the America East Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year twice (2009 and 2014) as well as the top women's coach in 2023. Acuff has also been chosen as the USTFCCCA Northeast Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year three times (2011 indoor, 2012 outdoor and 2015 indoor) and has won the women's award twice (2021 outdoor and 2022 indoor). 

Four of Acuff's men's runners - Van Ingen, Garn, Holt and Schaffer - have all broken four minutes in the mile either during their careers at Binghamton or at the professional level. Mackay, meanwhile, has broken the women's four-minute mark in the 1,500. 







 
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