2019 NCAA DI Cross Country Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association following Regional Championships Friday.

Information on each of the winners can be found below.

Many of these winning athletes and coaches will end their seasons this Saturday at the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.

USTFCCCA Regional Awards are presented by Pro Form Sports.

Men’s Athlete of the Year

The Dan McClimon Award

GREAT LAKES REGION — Aaron Bienenfeld — Cincinnati

Bienenfeld, a senior from Frankfurt, Germany, won the individual title at the Great Lakes Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 29:59.9. He also won individual titles at The American Cross Country Championships, at the Pre-National Invitational and at the Rhodes College Invitational.

The Charles Werner Award

MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Camren Fischer — Princeton

Fischer, a freshman from Fayetteville, Arkansas, won the individual title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 29:58.8. He also posted strong efforts at the Ivy League Championships and at the Paul Short Run.

The Bill Bergan Award

MIDWEST REGION — Edwin Kurgat — Iowa State

Kurgat, a senior from Eldoret, Kenya, won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 30:38.3. He is undefeated this year with wins at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships, the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational and the John McNichols Invitational.

MOUNTAIN REGION — Geordie Beamish — Northern Arizona

Beamish, a senior from Havelock North, New Zealand, won the individual title at the Mountain Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 30:25.6. He also ran well at the Big Sky Cross Country Championships (2nd) and at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational (8th).

The Fred Tootell Award

NORTHEAST REGION — Alex Masai — Hofstra

Masai, a senior from Eldoret, Kenya, won the individual title at the Northeast Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 28:42.3. He is undefeated this season with victories at the CAA Cross Country Championships, the Princeton Invitational, the Paul Short Run and the Wolfie Invitational.

SOUTH REGION — Gilbert Kigen — Alabama

Kigen, a senior from Kipkabus, Kenya, won the individual title at the South Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 29:49.5. He also ran well at the SEC Cross Country Championships and at the Joe Piane Invitational, where he finished runner-up both times.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Sam Worley — Texas

Worley, a junior from New Braunfels, Texas, won the individual title at the South Central Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 29:49.8. He also ran well at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships (4th) and at the Chile Pepper Festival (7th).

SOUTHEAST REGION — Peter Seufer — Virginia Tech

Seufer, a senior from Lynchburg, Virginia, won the individual title at the Southeast Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 29:20.7. He also won an individual title at the ACC Cross Country Championships.

The John Chaplin Award

WEST REGION — Andrew Jordan — Washington

Jordan, a senior from Pataskala, Ohio, won the individual title at the West Region Championships when he covered the 10K tract in 29:43.4. He also ran well at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships (3rd) and at the Pre-National Invitational (7th).

Men’s Coach of the Year

The Earle Hayes Award

GREAT LAKES REGION — Norbert Elliott — Purdue

Elliott, in his second year as head coach, led the Boilermakers to the team title at the Great Lakes Region Championships with 79 points. Purdue also won the team title at the Illini Open.

The Harry Groves Award

MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Marcus O’Sullivan — Villanova

O’Sullivan, in his 20th year as head coach, led the Wildcats to the team title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships with 37 points. Villanova also won team titles at the Big East Conference Championships and Haverford Invitational.

The Roy Griak Award

MIDWEST REGION — Steve Gulley — Tulsa

Gulley, in his 18th year as head coach, led the Golden Hurricane to the team title at the Midwest Regional Championships with 37 points. Tulsa also won team titles at The American Conference Championships and Rhodes College Invitational.

The Chick Hislop Award

MOUNTAIN REGION — Michael Smith — Northern Arizona

Smith, in his third year as head coach, led the Lumberjacks to the team title at the Mountain Region Championships with 21 points. Northern Arizona also won team titles at the Big Sky Conference Championships, Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, John McNichols Invitational and George Kyte Invitational.

The Robert Grieve Award

NORTHEAST REGION — Alex Gibby — Harvard

Gibby, in his third year as head coach, led the Crimson to the team title at the Northeast Region Championships with 59 points. Harvard was also the runner-up team at the Ivy League Championships.

The Dave Walker Award

SOUTH REGION — Ryan Vanhoy — Ole Miss

Vanhoy, in his seventh year as head coach, the Rebels to the team title at the South Region Championships with 69 points. Ole Miss also won the team title at the Southeastern Conference Championships.

The Johnny Morriss Award

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Pete Watson — Texas

Watson, in his second year as head coach, led the Longhorns to the team title at the South Central Region Championships with 39 points. Texas also won team titles at the Chile Pepper Festival, Texas Invitational and Bear Twilight Invitational.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Vin Lananna — Virginia

Lananna, in his first year as head coach, led the Cavaliers to the team title at the Southeast Region Championships with 79 points. Virginia also won team titles at  the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational and Cavalier Classic.

The Dean Miller Award

WEST REGION — Rob Conner — Portland

Conner, in his 30th year as head coach, led the Pilots to the team title at the West Region Championships with 65 points. Portland also won team titles at the Warner Pacific Classic, Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, Viking Rust Buster and Linfield Harrier Classic.

Women’s Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION — Alicia Monson — Wisconsin

Monson, a senior from Amery, Wisconsin, won the individual title at the Great Lakes Region Championships in 19:59.9. She also won individual titles at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships and the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Lydia Olivere — Villanova

Olivere, a sophomore from Wilmington, Delaware, won the individual title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships in 20:02.0. She also won individual titles at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships and the Main Line Invitational.

MIDWEST REGION — Cailie Logue — Iowa State

Logue, a junior from Erie, Kansas, won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships in 20:20.6. She also won the individual title at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships.

MOUNTAIN REGION — Weini Kelati — New Mexico

Kelati, a junior from Leesburg, Virgina, won the individual title at the Mountain Region Championships in 18:58.7. She also won individual titles at the Mountain West Cross Country Championships and the Joe Piane Invitational.

NORTHEAST REGION — Hannah Reinhardt — Albany

Reinhardt, a senior from Clarence, New York, won the individual title at the Northeast Region Championships in 19:28.4. She also won individual titles at the America East Cross Country Championships, the R.K. Munsey/UAlbany Invitational and the Siena Invitational.

SOUTH REGION — Joyce Kimeli — Auburn

Kimeli, a junior from Eldoret, Kenya, won the individual title at the South Region Championships in 19:59.5. She also ran well at the SEC Cross Country Championships (3rd), the Pre-National Invitational (2nd) and the Joe Piane Invitational (3rd).

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Taylor Werner — Arkansas

Werner, a senior from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, won the individual title at the South Central Region Championships in 20:30.3. She also won individual titles at the Chile Pepper Festival and the John McNichols Invitational.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Elly Henes — NC State

Henes, a senior from Cary, North Carolina, won the individual title at the Southeast Region Championships in 19:48.9. She also won individual titles at the ACC Cross Country Championships and the Wolfpack Invitational/adidas XC Challenge.

WEST REGION — Ella Donaghu — Stanford

Donaghu, a junior from Portland, Oregon, won the individual title at the West Region Championships in 19:50.8. She also ran well at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships, where she finished runner-up.

Women’s Coach of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION — Walt Drenth — Michigan State

Drenth, in his 16th year as head coach, led the Spartans to the team title at the Great Lakes Region Championships with 49 points. Michigan State also won team titles at the Big Ten Conference Championships, Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational and Spartan Invitational.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION — John Gondak — Penn State

Gondak, in his sixth year as head coach, led the Nittany Lions to the team title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships with 73 points. Penn State also won team titles at the Penn State National and Dolan Duals.

MIDWEST REGION — Sarah Haveman — Illinois

Haveman, in her second year as head coach, led the Fighting Illini to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 108 points. Illinois also won the team title at the Illini Open.

The Patrick Shane Award

MOUNTAIN REGION — Diljeet Taylor — BYU

Taylor, in her fourth year as head coach, led the Cougars to the team title at the Mountain Region Championships with 70 points. BYU also won team titles at the West Coast Conference Championships, Bill Dellinger Invitational, BYU Autumn Classic and Big Wave Invitational.

The Ray Treacy Award

NORTHEAST REGION — Alex Gibby — Harvard

Gibby, in his third year as head coach, led the Crimson to the team title at the Northeast Region Championships with 92 points. Harvard also won the team title at the Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial.

SOUTH REGION — Kelly Phillips — Florida State

Phillips, in her fifth year as head coach, led the Seminoles to the team title at the South Region Championships with 42 points. Florida State also won team titles at the UAB Blazer Classic, UAH Chargers Open and Covered Bridge Open.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Lance Harter — Arkansas

Harter, in his 30th year as head coach, led the Razorbacks to the team title at the South Central Region Championships with a perfect 15 points. Arkansas also won team titles at the Southeastern Conference Championships, Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, Chile Pepper Festival and John McNichols Invitational.

The Rollie Geiger Award

SOUTHEAST REGION — Laurie Henes — NC State

Henes, in her 14th year as head coach, led the Wolfpack to the team title at the Southeast Region Championships with 48 points. NC State also won team titles at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships and Wolfpack Invitational/adidas Challenge.

The Tom Heinonen Award

WEST REGION — J.J. Clark — Stanford

Clark, in his first year as head coach, led the Cardinal to the team title at the West Region Championships with 39 points. Stanford also won the team title at the Pac-12 Conference Cross Country Championships.