Award History
NCAA DII ITF Regional AwardsNCAA DII Regional Award Winners For 2018 Indoor Season
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the eight regions honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes, and the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Many of the honored athletes and coaches will be in competition at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships set for this weekend, March 9-10, in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Ed’Treon Wilcox – Virginia Union
Wilcox, a senior from Bell Glades, Florida, is ranked eighth in the nation in the 200 with a time of 21.38 and 23rd in the nation in the 60 with a time of 6.82. He won conference titles in both and is the only individual in the Atlantic Region to be ranked No. 1 in two events.
CENTRAL REGION – Taysean Goodwin – Emporia State
Goodwin, a junior from Blue Springs, Missouri, is ranked fourth nationally in the 400 meters with a time of 47.22. He is also a member of the second-ranked 4×400 relay team. Goodwin scored 20.5 points by himself at the MIAA Championships and set a conference championship record in the 400.
EAST REGION – Leakey Kipkosgei – American International
Kipkosgei, a junior from Kapsabet, Kenya, is ranked third nationally in the 800 with a time of 1:49.41, 15th nationally in the 3000 with a time of 8:09.54 and 24th nationally in the mile with a time of 4:07.14. Kipkosgei became the first American International athlete to win four gold medals at the NE10 Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Myles Pringle – Ashland
Pringle, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the 400 with a time of 46.42 and fifth nationally in the 200 with a time of 21.32. He set school records in both of those events during the season and will double at NCAAs.
SOUTH REGION – Juan Scott – Central State
Scott, a sophomore from Dayton, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the 60 hurdles with a time of 7.85 and is undefeated in the event. He won a meet loaded with NCAA DI talent at Ohio State and was a National Athlete of the Week this season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Thomas Staines – CSU-Pueblo
Staines, a sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colorado, is ranked first nationally in the 800 with a time of 1:47.82. That also stands as the third fastest time in NCAA DII history. He is also ranked ninth nationally in the 400 with a time of 47.58 and 15th nationally in the mile with a time of 4:05.85. He also runs the 800-meter leg of the fourth fastest DMR in the nation.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Marquett Simmons Jr. – Limestone
Simmons Jr., a senior from Jonesboro, Georgia, is ranked fifth nationally in the 60 with a time of 6.74 and seventh nationally in the 200 with a time of 21.75. He also chipped in as a member of the top-ranked 4×400 relay team in the region.
WEST REGION – David Ribich – Western Oregon
Ribich had himself a historic season. The senior from Enterprise, Oregon, turned in all-time efforts in both the 3000 and the mile. It was in the 3000 that Ribich broke the NCAA DII record with a time of 7:50.81 and leads the nation by nine seconds. Then in the mile, he was the fourth man in NCAA DII history to break four minutes when he clocked a time of 3:58.88. Ribich also is the fastest man in NCAA DII history over 1000 meters (2:21.38).
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Alex Presley – Wheeling Jesuit
Presley, a senior from Zanesville, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the shot put with a heave of 18.58m (60-11½) that set the meet record at the Youngstown State Invitational. He posted a victory in every shot put competition this season that he has competed in.
CENTRAL REGION – Bryan Burns – Missouri Southern
Burns, a senior from Carthage, Missouri, is ranked second nationally in the shot put with a heave of 18.50m (60-8¼) and is ranked ninth nationally in the weight throw with a mark of 20.02m (65-9¼). He scored 14 points for his team at the MIAA Championships.
EAST REGION – Michael Agyeman – Southern Connecticut
Agyeman, a sophomore from Manchester, Connecticut, is ranked 12th nationally in the triple jump with a mark of 15.15m (49-8¾). He won individual titles at the NE10 Championships, All Division New England Championships and the Dr. Sander Invitational at the Armory.
MIDWEST REGION – Alex Hill – Ashland
Hill, a sophomore from Mansfield, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the weight throw with a mark of 22.49m (73-9¼), which is the third best mark in NCAA DII history. He is undefeated against collegiate competition and helped the Eagles earn the No. 1 USTFCCCA Squad Ranking in the event across all divisions.
SOUTH REGION – Bjoern Klehn – Christian Brothers
Brothers, a freshman from Moenchhagen, Germany, is ranked first nationally in the long jump with a mark of 7.71m (25-3¼). He set a school record in the event this season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Florian Obst – Texas A&M-Commerce
Obst, a senior from Emmering, Germany, is ranked first nationally in the heptathlon with a score of 5494 points, which is the 12th best score in NCAA DII history. He scored 23 points for his team at the LSC Championships when he placed in five events (four were in the field).
SOUTHEAST REGION – Lawrence Russell Jr. – Barton
Russell Jr., a junior from Sicklerville, New Jersey, is ranked fourth nationally in the long jump with a mark of 7.63m (25-0½). He has also done well in the high jump and triple jump this season – ranked fifth regionally in both – and is one of just two jumpers in the Southeast Region who earned All-Region honors in three events this season.
WEST REGION – Michane Ricketts – Academy of Art
Ricketts, a senior from Clarendon, Jamaica, is ranked second nationally in the long jump with a mark of 7.70m (25-3¼). He broke the school record and won four event titles this season.
Men’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Dave Osanitsch – Shippensburg
Osanitsch, in his 13th year at Shippensburg, guided the Raiders to a PSAC Championship where his athletes claimed seven event titles. His squad was also the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region on the season, thanks to a whopping 20 All-Region honorees.
CENTRAL REGION – Russ Jewett – Pittsburg State
Jewett, in his 30th year at Pittsburg State, coached the Gorillas to a MIAA Championship, where his squad won by 48 points. Jewett has nine men qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, with six of them being ranked in the top-five of the Descending Order List in their respective events.
EAST REGION – John Wallin – Southern Connecticut
Wallin, in his eighth year with Southern Connecticut, led the Owls to a Northeast-10 Championship for the second-consecutive season. His team has three NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships qualifiers, and his athletes claimed six Northeast-10 Championship event titles.
MIDWEST REGION – Jeremy Croy – Tiffin
Croy, in his 18th year with Tiffin, guided the Dragons to a runner-up finish at the GLIAC Championships. His athletes picked up GLIAC titles in the 60, mile, 3000, 60 hurdles, long jump, triple jump and shot put. Croy and the Dragons head into the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships ranked second nationally.
SOUTH REGION – Caleb Morgan – Lee (Tenn.)
Morgan, in his fifth year at Lee (Tenn.), has two athletes who qualified for NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. Ranked first in the South Region, the Flames also hit a school-record 10 provisional qualifier marks on the season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Sparks – Colorado Mines
Sparks, in his fifth year at Colorado Mines, led the Orediggers to a first-place national ranking across five weeks this season in addition to picking up the RMAC Championship. His squad was also ranked as the top team in the South Central Region for six-consecutive weeks.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jim Vahrenkamp – Queens (N.C.)
Vahrenkamp, in his fifth year at Queens (N.C.), coached the Royals to a SAC Championship, where his athletes captured four event championships. With 14 qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, Vahrenkamp’s team is ranked first in the Southeast Region.
WEST REGION – Jerret Mantalas – Concordia (Ore.)
Mantalas, in his fourth season at Concordia (Ore.), coached the Cavaliers to a GNAC Championship in the program’s first year of full NCAA membership. Mantalas’ squad has 10 qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Steve Spence – Shippensburg
Spence, in his 13th year at Shippensburg, instructed the Raiders’ distance and mid-distance runners to a total of 87 points to help the team capture the PSAC Championship. His athletes were named the PSAC Most Valuable Track Athlete and Most Valuable Athlete after their performances at the conference meet.
CENTRAL REGION – Chris Parno – Minnesota State
Parno, in his sixth year at Minnesota State, was instrumental in the Mavericks’ NSIC Championship. His sprints and hurdles athletes totaled 113 points at the conference championship, winning the 200, 400, 600, 60 hurdles and 4×400 relays. His has seven athletes who have qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
EAST REGION – Brian Fuller – American International
Fuller, in his third year at American International, tutored the distance and mid-distance athletes to a runner-up finish at the Northeast-10 Championships. His athletes hold the top times in the East Region in every single distance and mid-distance event, and his athletes totaled 84 points at the NE10 Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Aaron Watson – Grand Valley State
Watson, in his fourth year at Grand Valley State, coached the Lakers’ distance runners that scored 43 points to help the team capture the GLIAC Championship. In total, his athletes hit nine Automatic Qualifying Marks for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships on the season.
SOUTH REGION – Charnay Ryland – Lee (Tenn.)
Ryland, in her second year at Lee (Tenn.), assisted with two Flames athletes that qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. Her athletes posted school records in the 60, 200, 400, triple jump, high jump and long jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jocelyn Sparks – Colorado Mines
Sparks, in her fifth year at Colorado Mines, oversaw the top-ranked pole vault group in the national squad event rankings this year, as well as the top-ranked heptathlon group. Sparks tutored nine different NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships qualifiers for the Orediggers, a program that ranks first nationally heading into the national meet.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Licht – Queens (N.C.)
Licht, in his first year at Queens (N.C.), tutored the Royals’ distance runners who accounted for 77 of the team’s 148 points on its way to a SAC Championships. Licht has coached 11 individual qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, and Queens (N.C.) is ranked as the top team in the Southeast Region.
WEST REGION – Nick Collins – Northwest Nazarene
Collins, in his third year at Northwest Nazarene, coached athletes who totaled 49 of the team’s 81 points at the GNAC Championships. His pole vaulters finished first, second, third and seventh, and in total, his athletes hit six NCAA Division II Provisional marks on the season.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Danielle Sciremammano – Shippensburg
Sciremammano, a senior from DuBois, Pennsylvania, is ranked fifth nationally in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.47. She broke the all-time PSAC record in the event and then lowered it at the same meet by running 8.53 in the prelims and then 8.47 in the finals.
CENTRAL REGION – Alexis Zeis – U-Mary
Zeis, a senior from Bismarck, North Dakota, is ranked second nationally in the 5000 with a time of 16:26.10 and fifth nationally in the 3000 with a time of 9:36.74. She won three events at the NSIC Championships – mile, 3000 and 5000 – to provide her team with 30 points en route to the team title.
EAST REGION – Chelsea Hayward – Roberts Wesleyan
Hayward, a senior from Litchfield, Connecticut, is ranked seventh nationally in the 200 with a time of 24.25 and 22nd nationally in the 60 with a time of 7.60. She is undefeated in six meets and 12 finals in the 60, 200 and 400 this season. Hayward also broke the meet record in the 400 at the ECC Championships and scored 30 points at that meet.
MIDWEST REGION – Janelle Perry – Ursuline
Perry, a junior from Akron, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.23, which put her in the top-10 in NCAA DII history. She turned in a huge effort at the G-MAC Championships, where she scored 35 of her team’s 89 points.
SOUTH REGION – Kristen Metcalfe – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Metcalfe, a junior from Mississauga, Ontario, is ranked third nationally in the 800 with a time of 2:08.27. She is also a member of a DMR team that is ranked first in the South Region and broke a school record this season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Alicja Konieczek – Western State
Konieczek, a junior from Zbaszyn, Poland, is ranked first nationally in the 3000 with a time of 9:22.52, sixth nationally in the mile with a time of 4:47.27 and 12th nationally in the 800 with a time of 2:10.02. She will compete in three events at the NCAA DII Championships – the 3000, mile and the distance medley relay, in which she’ll be the anchor leg.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Leah Hanle – Mount Olive
Hanle, a sophomore from Lichtenstein, Germany, is ranked third nationally in the 5000 with a time of 16:32.89 and 20th nationally in the 3000 with a time of 9:46.46. She is ranked first in the Southeast Region in both of those events and added another top-5 in the mile.
WEST REGION – Timarya Baynard – SF State
Baynard, a sophomore from San Jose, California, is ranked first nationally in the 400 with a time of 54.55 and clocked that time in her first meet of the season. She is also a member of the fastest 4×400 relay team in the nation and helped that foursome to a time of 3:41.82. She qualified for three different events at NCAAs: 200, 400 and the 4×400.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Sunflower Greene – Millersville
Greene, a junior from Lancaster, Pennslyvania, is ranked third nationally in the shot put with a mark of 15.85m (52-0) and eighth in the weight throw with a mark of 19.36m (63-2¼). She was the first woman to win both the shot put and weight throw at the PSAC Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Michaela Dendinger – Wayne State (Neb.)
Dendinger, a senior from Coleridge, Nebraska, is ranked first nationally in the shot put at 16.72m (54-10¼) and second nationally in the weight throw at 19.96m (65-6). She won both of those events at the NSIC Championships and broke school records in them as well.
EAST REGION – Destiney Coward – Southern Connecticut
Coward, a senior from East Haven, Connecticut, is ranked first nationally in the weight throw with a heave of 21.29m (69-10). She is undefeated in the weight throw this season and scored 20 points for her team at the NE10 Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Cierra Pulliam – Lewis
Pulliam, a junior from Romeoville, Illinois, is ranked second nationally in the triple jump with a mark of 13.02m (42-8¾) and is ranked fifth in the long jump with a mark of 6.04m (19-9¾). It was at the GLVC Championships where she only needed two jumps to win both the long jump and triple jump – and set conference and school records in both.
SOUTH REGION – Merari Coronado – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Coronado, a freshman from Sanford, Florida, is ranked 18th nationally in the shot put with a mark of 14.52m (47-7). She is also ranked fifth in the South Region in the weight throw.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Fatim Affessi – West Texas A&M
Affessi, a sophomore from Geneva, Switzerland, is ranked first nationally in both the long jump and triple jump. Her mark of 13.20m (43-3¾) in the triple jump is the sixth best mark in NCAA DII history, while her long jump of 6.30m (20-8) is the eighth best mark in history.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Vanisha Wilshire – Wingate
Wilshire, a junior from Louisburg, North Carolina, is ranked 10th nationally in the high jump with a clearance of 1.71m (5-7¼). She won that event at the conference meet and added 18 more points on her way to SAC Field Athlete of the Year honors.
WEST REGION – Scout Cai – Seattle Pacific
Cai, a sophomore from Colfax, Washington, is ranked fifth nationally in the heptathlon with a score of 3709. She is also ranked 17th nationally in the pole vault. Cai competed in three events at the GNAC Championships, winning two (pentathlon and pole vault).
Women’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – George Williams – Saint Augustine’s
Williams, in his 42nd year at Saint Augustine’s, directed the Lady Falcons to its third CIAA Indoor Championship in six seasons. His women won eight events, including four by the CIAA Women’s Field MVP Magaly Tshipopo (high jump, long jump, triple jump and pentathlon), who doubled as the CIAA Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year.
CENTRAL REGION – Russ Jewett – Pittsburg State
Jewett, in his 32nd year at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to a MIAA Championship where his women totaled seven individual event championships. His squad won the title by the largest margin in 37 years. On the season, 10 of his athletes qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
EAST REGION – Karen Boen – Stonehill
Boen, in her 21st season at Stonehill, led the Skyhawks to a Northeast-10 Championship for the fifth-year in a row. Her team scored in 16 of the 19 events contested, and her distance and mid-distance athletes totaled 80 of the team’s 165 points.
MIDWEST REGION – Aaron McAndrew – Bellarmine
McAndrew, in his seventh year at Bellarmine, coached the Knights to a GLVC Championship, where his athletes captured six event titles. For his efforts, he was named the 2018 GLVC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year. McAndrew’s athletes will compete in six individual events and two relays at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Mike Rosolino – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Rosolino, in his 16th year at Embry-Riddle, led the Eagles to the top ranking in the South Region throughout the season. His athletes hit one NCAA Division II Automatic Qualifying Mark on the season in addition to posting five provisional marks.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Stewart – West Texas A&M
Stewart, in his first year at West Texas A&M, guided the Lady Buffs to a Lone Star Championship. Ranked second nationally and first in the South Central Region, nine of his athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Matthew van Lierop – Mount Olive
van Lierop, in his 10th year at Mount Olive, led the Trojans to a Conference Carolinas Championship on the season. Eight of his athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, and his team broke 11 school-records on the season.
WEST REGION – Kendra Reimer – SF State
Reimer, in her fourth season at San Francisco State, guided the Gators to 11 school-record performances on the season. Her team posted 10 top-40 NCAA Division II Descending Order List marks on the year, including the top marks in the 4×400 relay and the 400.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Sandy Chapman – Saint Augustine’s
Chapman, in his 18th year at Saint Augustine’s, helped direct the Lady Falcons to its third CIAA Indoor Championship in six years. Five of his athletes qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Reece Vega – U-Mary
Vega, in his first year at U-Mary, was instrumental in the Marauders run to a NSIC Championship. His sprints and hurdles crew scored 58 points at the meet. His 400 meter group held the third-best spot in the NCAA Division II event rankings.
EAST REGION – Justin Bailey – American International
Bailey, in his second year at American International, coached jumpers and multi-event athletes on the season, where five of them ranked in the top-17 in their respective events. His athletes hold the top spots in the East Region in the high jump and pentathlon, as well as the first and second-best marks in the region in the triple jump and long jump.
MIDWEST REGION – Alan Dunson – Grand Valley State
Dunson, in his third year at Grand Valley State, coached the sprinters and hurdlers to 73 points for the GLIAC Championship-winning Lakers. His athletes notched eight top-40 NCAA Division II Descending Order List marks on the season, including the second-best 4×400 time of 3:42.38.
SOUTH REGION – Joseph Crook – Lee (Tenn.)
Crook, in his third year at Lee (Tenn.), had distance athletes hit four provisional marks on the season, including one NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships qualifier. His athletes notched 16 All-Region honors.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jennifer Michel – Western State
Michel, in her 11th year at Western State, coached four athletes to eight provisional qualifying marks and three automatic qualifying performances. She tutored the top-ranked distance medley relay team in NCAA Division II this year, the top-two 3000 meter runners, two top-10 mile runners and one top-10 5000 meter athlete. Her athletes scored 61 of Western State’s 117 points at the RMAC Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Licht – Queens (N.C.)
Licht, in his first year at Queens (N.C.), helped coach the Royals to SAC Championship. His distance athletes accounted for 89 of the team’s 189 total points at the meet. Six of his runners qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
WEST REGION – Jarred Rome – Concordia (Ore.)
Rome, in his fifth year at Concordia (Ore.), owned the top-ranked shot put group in the NCAA Division II event rankings, as well as the third-best weight throw group. His athletes totaled 33 points in the shot put and 27 in the weight throw at the conference championships.