Award History
NJCAA DI OTF National AwardsNJCAA Division I National Awards Announced
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Wednesday national award winners for the 2015 NJCAA Division I outdoor track & field season as selected by the nation’s coaches.
USTFCCCA National Championships Central
The USTFCCCA bestowed awards upon the Track Athletes and Field Athletes of the Year for both men and women, as well as Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches of the Year for men’s and women’s teams.
The awards were determined based on performances at the NJCAA Division I Championships and throughout the 2015 regular season.
NATIONAL MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Harry Mulenga – Central Arizona
A sophomore from Chililabombwe, Zambia, Mulenga won two national titles, running 3:49.75 in the 1500 meters for the NJCAA crown and a season’s best 14:30.46 to claim the top spot in the 5000 meters by over two seconds.
NATIONAL MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Michael Samuels – South Plains
A sophomore from Miami, Fla., won the NJCAA crown in the decathlon, recording a winning score of 6,683 points. He also placed in a national tie for seventh in the high jump and finished ninth in triple jump.
NATIONAL MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Beene – South Plains
Beene, in his 11th season, led the Texans to its ninth-straight NJCAA outdoor crown. The 162½ points tallied for the national title was 61½ better than runner-up Central Arizona’s total. South Plains entered the NJCAA meet with a meet-best 39 entries.
NATIONAL MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Blaine Wiley — South Plains
Wiley, in his ninth (and final) year with the Texans helped guide South Plains to its ninth-straight national title. He mentored half of the squad — in sprints, jumps, hurdles, and relay events — that qualified and scored in the NJCAA Championships. Wiley recently accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Alabama which will begin at the conclusion of the outdoor season.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Lydia Mato – Barton County CC
The sophomore swept three national distance titles at the NJCAA Championships. Winning the 10,000 meters by over two-and-a-half minutes, she crossed the tape in 35:27.23. She then won the 1500-meter crown by nearly seven seconds with a 4:33.84 clocking. To complete the triple crown, her win in the 5000 meters was captured by a winning margin of nearly a minute-and-a-half and in a meet record 16:39.37, ahead of Sally Kipyego’s 2006 winning time.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Gleneve Grange — New Mexico JC
Grange, a sophomore from Kingston, Jamaica, won the NJCAA crown in the discus with a meet-best of 50.83m (166-9). She participated in four events at the national meet and also placed third in the shot put.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Beene – South Plains
Beene’s Lady Texans won its sixth NJCAA outdoor crown over a seven-year period, scoring 122 points to take the title by eight points over runner-up Iowa Central CC. His squad entered the championships with a meet-best 33 entries.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Blaine Wiley — South Plains
Wiley, in his ninth (and final) year with the Lady Texans helped guide South Plains to its sixth national title in seven years. He mentored half of the squad — in sprints, jumps, hurdles, and relay events — that qualified and scored in the NJCAA Championships. Wiley recently accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Alabama which will begin at the conclusion of the outdoor season.