FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

SOMERS, Wis. (Jan. 24, 2014)-- University of Wisconsin-Parkside Hall of Famer Lucian Rosa will be honored in his native Sri Lanka on Jan. 29 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in conjunction with the opening of the new Sports Ministry Building in Colombo.

Rosa, who served as head coach of the Ranger men's cross country and track & field programs from 1977-2007, will be honored with other Sri Lanka sportsmen who have won medals at the Asian Games. The 1975 UW-Parkside graduate claimed the gold medal in both the 5,000-meters and 10,000-meters at the 1970 Asian Games, securing the island nations only gold medals at that year's competition held in Bangkok, Thailand. Rosa additionally claimed bronze medals in both events at the 1966 Asian Games.

A charter member of the UW-Parkside Hall of Fame, Rosa was a standout athlete for the Rangers, earning All-American honors on eight occasions while claiming three NAIA national titles. Rosa won the marathon at the NAIA Championships in both 1973 and 1974 while securing the national crown in the six-mile run in 1975. Rosa was a three-time USTFF Marathon champion and was a two-time Olympian for Sri Lanka.

He placed fourth at the Boston Marathon in 1974 and ranked 11th in world at that distance. Rosa competed at the 1972 Olympics but was unable to compete in the 1976 Olympics after his nation withdrew for political reasons. Rosa still holds Sri Lankan records for fastest 10k (29:18) and marathon (2:14.31), records that have stood for nearly 40 years.

Sri Lanka's new Sports Ministry Building will officially open during the ceremony which will commence on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. local time.