CHERRY HILL—Rowan junior track & field athlete Demetrius Rooks was among a group of prestigious award recipients honored at the 2012 Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Awards Dinner held at the Crown Plaza Hotel on January 30. Rooks was recognized among a select group of professional and amateur sport nominees which including Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence, Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux, and the late Heavyweight Champion of the World, Joe Frazier.

Rooks anchored Rowan’s NCAA Division III national champion 4x400 meter relay which won the national outdoor title with a winning time of 3:11.45. He also was the national outdoor runner-up in the 400 meter hurdles, placing second in the national championship meet with a time of 52.34. Rooks garnered All-American honors for his performances in both events.

In 2011, Rooks was named the NJAC Gerrity Award winner for the second consecutive season - an honor awarded by the league coaches to the Most Outstanding Male Athlete in the conference championship. He garnered the honor by claiming the NJAC Championship in the 400 meter hurdles with a conference-record and NCAA automatic qualifying time of 52.63. He also claimed the conference title in the 400 meters with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 48.19. Rooks also anchored the Profs’ NJAC Champion 4x400 meter relay which produced a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:15.14.