2016 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.

2016 NJCAA Cross Country National Awards

Based on results of the NJCAA Division I Championships held November 12 in El Dorado, Kansas, the following earned USTFCCCA national awards:

National Men’s Athlete of the Year — Gilbert Kigen, Central Arizona

Kigen, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, topped the NJCAA Championship field by 38 seconds en route to the national crown, covering the 8k course in 23:47.5. He also won the NJCAA Region I title earlier in the season.

National Men’s Coach of the Year – Paul Tavares, Central Arizona

Tavaras, in his 17th year with Central Arizona, led his team to their third national crown in a five-year span with a 49-62 margin over nearest challenger Iowa Central CC. Central Arizona placed three runners in the national championship top ten for the title.

National Women’s Athlete of the Year – Leanne Pompeani, Iowa Central CC

Pompeani, a sophomore from Canberra, Australia, claimed the national cross country crown for the second-straight year. She covered this year’s 5k course in 17:11.4, 19 seconds ahead of her nearest competition. She also won the NJCAA Region XI title this season.

National Women’s Coach of the Year – Jim Robinson, Lansing (Mich.)

Robinison led the Stars to its second-straight national crown in a tight race, three points ahead of Central Arizona and El Paso CC. His team also won the NJCAA Region XII title this year. Robinson is in his eighth year with the school.

2016 NJCAA Cross Country Region Awards

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

Men’s Region Athletes of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Mark Corrigan, Delaware Tech
A sophomore from Wilmington, Del., Corrigan won the NJCAA Region XIX title.

CENTRAL REGION — Moses Dirane, Cloud County
A freshman from Pretoria, South Africa, Dirane won the NJCAA Region VI title

GREAT LAKES REGION — Eric Ponder, Danville
Ponder, a freshman, won NJCAA Region XXIV title

MIDWEST REGION — Karim Achengli, Iowa Central
A freshman from Adra, Spain, Achengli won NJCAA Region XI title

WEST REGION — Gilbert Kigen, Central Arizona
A freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, Kigen won the NJCAA Region I title

Men’s Region Coaches of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Ray Parker, Delaware Tech
Team won NJCAA Region XIX title

CENTRAL REGION — Vince DeGrado, Allen County
Team won NJCAA Region VI title

GREAT LAKES REGION — Chris Gafner, Vincennes
Team won NJCAA Region XII title

MIDWEST REGION — Dee Brown, Iowa Central
Team won NJCAA Region XII title

WEST REGION — Eric Vance, South Plains
Team won NJCAA Region V title

Women’s Region Athletes of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Andrea Foster, Essex CC
Won NJCAA Region XIX title

CENTRAL REGION — Winnie Kibet, Colby
A freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, won the NJCAA Region VI title

GREAT LAKES REGION — Casey Mossholder, Lansing
Mossholder, a freshman from DeWitt, Mich., won NJCAA Region XII title.

MIDWEST REGION — Leanne Pompeani, Iowa Central
Pompeani, a sophomore from Canberra, Australia, won the NJCAA Region XI title

WEST REGION — Kaitlyn Volk, Central Arizona
Volk, a sophomore from Vista Grande, Ariz., won the NJCAA Region I title

Women’s Region Coaches of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Jacqueline Wachtel, Pasco-Hernando
Team won NJCAA Region VIII title

CENTRAL REGION — Dan Adler, Cowley
Team won NJCAA Region VI title

GREAT LAKES REGION — Jim Robinson, Lansing
Team won NJCAA Region XII title

MIDWEST REGION — Dee Brown, Iowa Central
Team won NJCAA Region XI title

WEST REGION — Felix Hinojosa, El Paso
Team won NJCAA Region V title