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2017 Chuck Ealey College Undefeated Spirit Award winner Janelle Noe

Women's Track and Field 3/22/2017 9:57:00 AM

Janelle Noe Receives 2017 Chuck Ealey College Undefeated Spirit Award

TOLEDO, Ohio - University of Toledo junior Janelle Noe has been named the 2017 recipient of The Chuck Ealey College Undefeated Spirit Award. Noe becomes the 10th winner and the first track & field/cross country athlete to collect the prestigious award. The award will be presented at the annual Songfest event in Savage Arena on Saturday, April 1. Noe will also be honored at a high school award program with BCSN and Leadership Toledo on Sunday, April 2 at the UT's Driscoll Center at 1:00 p.m.

Founded in 2007, the Chuck Ealey Foundation presents the award to the student-athlete who best demonstrates the behaviors of living the Undefeated Spirit in their sport, in the classroom and in the community. Award winners are role models for making good choices and living with an Undefeated Spirit in everything that they do.

The award also recognizes that behind every person with an Undefeated Spirit, there are others around them who have instilled this spirit. Chuck Ealey was one of the greatest football players in UT history. A quarterback, Ealey led the Rockets to a perfect 35-0 record and three Mid-American Conference Championships from 1969-71. His mother, Earline Ealey, is the inspiration behind the award. She lived her life with an Undefeated Spirit and instilled that spirit in Chuck. Chuck has been working to instill the same spirit into his family and everyone around him.

The foundation uses Undefeated as an acronym, standing for Undefeated, No Negativity, Determination/Desire, Encouragement/Endurance, Faith/Focus/Fortitude, Equality, Attitude/Actions, Tenacity, Education, Discipline.

Noe was a clear choice to receive this year's award and is the epitome of what the award entails. On Jan. 15, 2016, Noe suffered second and third degree burns on over 50 percent of her body. After a long and strenuous recovery, Noe returned to competition in the fall of 2016. On Sept. 2, less than nine months after the incident, Noe competed for the Toledo women's cross country team in the Toledo Opener. She ran the 5K course in 18:21.4 to finish in 12th place. Noe also competed in various meets during the Rockets' indoor track & field season and has her sights set on the upcoming outdoor season. In the classroom, Noe holds a 3.843 grade point average as an exercise science major.

The Undefeated Spirit Award has been presented annually at UT's Songfest as a way to bring together UT student leaders and student-athletes.

Chuck Ealey Undefeated Spirit Award Winners
2008 - Stephen Williams, Football
2009 - Allie Clifton, Women's Basketball
2010 - Marguerite Johnson, Women's Golf
2011 - Melissa Goodall, Women's Basketball
2012 - Andola Dortch, Women's Basketball
2013 - Ben Pike, Football
2014 - Becky Rhodes, Women's Soccer
2015 - Juice Brown, Men's Basketball
2016 - Brenae Harris, Women's Basketball
2017 - Janelle Noe, Women's Track/Cross Country

Toledo track /cross country runner returned to action nine months after suffering from serious burn injuries

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Players Mentioned

Janelle Noe: DISTANCE; Junior

Players Mentioned

Janelle Noe
: Junior
: DISTANCE