NJCAA Division III Outdoor T&F National Awards Announced

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Tuesday its inaugural NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2015 season.

USTFCCCA National Championships Central

Based on a vote of NJCAA coaches, 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 III Championships and throughout the 2015 regular season.

MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Chuck Collins – Finger Lakes CC

Collins, a sophomore from Geneva, N.Y., won the NJCAA DIII title in the 10,000 meters (33:42.82) by nearly 12 seconds ahead of the championship field. In addition, Collins claimed second in the 5000 (16:26.15) and was a member of the sixth-place-finishing 4×800 relay squad. Earlier in the year, he posted the best time in the division in the 10k with a 32:32.01 run to win the Region III Championships. His 15:33.68 season best in the 5000 meters won Nazareth College’s ROC Classic.

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Stephanie Boucher — Mohawk Valley CC

Boucher, a sophomore from New Hartford, N.Y., finished the season undefeated in the 800 and 1500 meters, adding national titles in those events to wrap the season. She won the 800 title by nearly four seconds and the 1500-meter crown by nearly second seconds. Those 20 points were part of the 32 total points scored by Boucher at the national meet as she added a second-place showing in the steeplechase. Also, she led the squad to a title in the 4×800 relay by nearly seven seconds as its anchor and also anchored the third-place 4×400 team.

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Keimon Barrow — SUNY Delhi

A sophomore from New Rochelle, N.Y., Barrow swept national crowns in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. He produced season bests at the national championships in the high jump (2.11m/6-11) – toppling the previous championships record – and long jump (6.96m/22-10) en route to the titles. His season best in the triple jump of 49-11 (15.21m) won the Cortland Classic Invitational.

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Zhane Ridley — SUNY Delhi

A sophomore from Panas, N.Y., Ridley won the heptathlon national crown by nearly 500 points, adding sixth-place finishes in the long jump and high jump individual events. On the track, she placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the 400-meter hurdles

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

Robb Munro — SUNY Delhi

Coach Munro, in his third year at Delhi, led the Broncos to its first national crown since 2005 with a massive 217½-point tally to best the field by 119½ points. His squad claimed 10 of the 22 event crowns at the national meet.

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

Gary Parker — Mohawk Valley CC

Coach Parker, leading Mohawk Valley in his 36th year, led his program to the national crown, the team’s second crown in four years and third in the past seven years. His team scored 151 points to top runner-up SUNY Delhi by 14 points.

MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

Josh Gregory — SUNY Delhi

Gregory, in his second year with Delhi, coaches the Bronco throwers. Mitchel Couch won the NJCAA DIII national hammer throw title, placed third in the discus, and fifth in the shot put. All told, Delhi had seven throws entries at the national championships.

WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

Josh Gregory — SUNY Delhi

Gregory, in his second season with Delhi as throws and heptathlon coach helped the Broncos to a second-place team showing. Delhi’s Zhane Ridley won the national title in the heptathlon by nearly 500 points while three others scored in throwing events.