Inaugural NJCAA DI Cross Country Post-Season Awards Announced

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced season-end award winners in cross country representing National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I. These are the first NJCAA Division I cross country awards in USTFCCCA history.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I National Award Winners

Based on results of the NJCAA Division I Championships held November 14 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the following earned USTFCCCA national awards.

MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Gilbert Kigen, Central Arizona

Kigen, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, won the NJCAA title by six seconds over his nearest challenger, running 23:55.2 over 8k, leading wire-to-wire for the individual crown. He led his Vaqueros to a runner-up team finish at the national championships. He finished the season undefeated, winning the region title by over a minute.

WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Leanne Pompeani, Iowa Central CC

Pompeani, a freshman from Canberra, Australia, won the NJCAA individual crown with a 17:21.6 clocking, 28 seconds ahead of national runner-up Lydia Mata. Pompeani’s finish helped the Tritons to a second-place team finish. She also won the Region XI title in leading her squad to the region title.

The NJCAA coaches chose the following winners after the national championships via membership vote.

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

Dee Brown, Iowa Central CC

Brown led the Tritons of Iowa Central to its second-straight NJCAA Division I crown as the scoring five runners on the squad finished in the national final’s top 20, giving ICCC a 56-86 decision over nearest challenger Central Arizona. Brown, in his 12th year at the school, also led his team to a region title this season.

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

Jim Robinson, Lansing CC

Robinson, in his seventh year leading the Stars, delivered Lansing its first national title on the NJCAA Division I level in women’s cross country. His team outpaced pre-meet favorite Iowa Central CC, 92-135, for the meet’s top showing. The Stars won the NJCAA Region XII title earlier in the season.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I Region Award Winners

The following were selected as award winners by coaches in each region. Winners were honored at the pre-championships banquet on November 13.

MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION – Patrick Jones, Southern Maryland
Won NJCAA Region 20 title in 28:49.

CENTRAL REGION – Sampson Laari, Barton County CC
Won NJCAA Region 6 title in 25:33.

GREAT LAKES REGION – Eric Ponder, Danville Area CC
Won NJCAA Region 24 title in 26:21.

MIDWEST REGION – Andrew Ronoh, Iowa Central CC
Won NJCAA Region 11 title in 24:31.

WEST REGION – Hassan Abdi, South Plains
Won NJCAA Region 5 title in 24:28.

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION – Mike Spinnler, Hagerstown CC
Team was NJCAA Region 20 runner-up.

CENTRAL REGION – Vince DeGrado, Allen County CC
Team won NJCAA Region 6 title.

GREAT LAKES REGION – Jim Robinson, Lansing CC
Team won NJCAA Region 12 title.

MIDWEST REGION – Dee Brown, Iowa Central CC
Team won NJCAA Region 11 title.

WEST REGION – Chris Beene, South Plains
Team won NJCAA Region 5 title.

WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION – Annie Noffsinger, Hagerstown CC
Won NJCAA Region 20 title in 20:49.

CENTRAL REGION – Lydia Mato, Barton County CC
Won NJCAA Region 6 title in 18:40.

GREAT LAKES REGION – Kaitlin Beyer, Lansing CC
Won NJCAA Region 12 title in 18:33.

MIDWEST REGION – Leanne Pompeani, Iowa Central CC
Won NJCAA Region 11 title in 17:52.

WEST REGION – Kayla Pallares, El Paso CC
Won NJCAA Region 5 title in 18:15.

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION – Nicole Mancini, Northern Virginia CC
Team won NJCAA Region 20 title.

CENTRAL REGION – Ryan Turner, Butler County CC
Team won NJCAA Region 6 title.

GREAT LAKES REGION – Jim Robinson, Lansing CC
Team won NJCAA Region 12 title.

MIDWEST REGION – Dee Brown, Iowa Central CC
Team won NJCAA Region 11 title.

WEST REGION – Felix Hinojso, El Paso CC
Team won NJCAA Region 5 title.

USTFCCCA NJCAA Division I All-America

The following list are the student-athletes that earned All-America honors from the USTFCCCA based on a top-15 finish at the NJCAA Division I Championships. Iowa Central CC led all men’s programs with four honorees and all women’s programs with three.

MEN

WOMEN