2020 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Regional Awards

Men’s Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Andy Martinez — Daytona State (Fla.)

Martinez, a sophomore from Melbourne, Florida, won the individual title at the Region XIII Championships in 26:01, which set a meet record. He also posted victories at the Florida Horse Park Invitational and the Alligator Lake Meet, sending the Falcons to the team title each time.

CENTRAL REGION — Melvin Kipkemboi — North Iowa Area CC

Kipkemboi, a freshman from Rift Valley, Kenya, won the NJCAA DII Region XI individual title, covering the 8K course in 25:50.4. He also posted top-5 finishes at the Grand View Open and Indian Hills CC Invitational earlier in the season.

GREAT LAKES REGION — Joshua Kipkoech — Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC

Kipkoech, a freshman from Grandville, Michigan, won the individual title at the NJCAA Region XII Championships in 26:10.2, beating the next closest finisher by nearly one full minute. He went undefeated this fall against opponents from the MCCAA and Region XII.

WEST REGION — Amos Pkiach — Cowley (Kan.)

Pkiach, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, won the NJCAA DII Region VI individual title, covering the 8K course in 24:29.1. He also finished runner-up at the Bethel College Invitational in mid-October.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Judy Wilson — Daytona State (Fla.)

Wilson, in her third year as head coach, guided the Falcons to its first NJCAA Region VIII/FCSAA team title with 28 points in the program’s third year of existence. The Falcons had three athletes in the top-5, led by individual champion Andy Martinez. Wilson’s squad also won the Florida Horse Park Invitational and Alligator Lake Invitation, while finishing second at Florida State College and fifth at the FSU Invitational.

CENTRAL REGION — Curtis Vais — North Iowa Area CC

Vais, in his 17th season at North Iowa Area CC, led the Trojans to the NJCAA DII Region XI title with 19 points and a pair of No. 1 rankings in the National Coaches’ Poll this season. Vais also coached Melvin Kipkemboi to the individual crown at the Region XI Championships.

GREAT LAKES REGION — Matt Sicilia — Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC

Sicilia, in his seventh season at Grand Rapids, led his Raiders to a team title at the Region XII Championships with 67 points. He coached Joshua Kipkoech to the individual crown as he paced the Raiders to its fifth MCCAA title and third regional title in program history.

WEST REGION — Cameron Rieth — Cowley (Kan.)

Rieth, in his second year as head coach, led Cowley (Kan.) to the overall team title at the Region VI Championships with 56 points, beating NJCAA DI Cloud County (Kan.) CC by one point. The Tigers also fared well at the Bethel College Invitational and the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic, where they finished runner-up each time.

Women’s Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Hope Shales — Marion Military Institute (Ala.)

Shales, a freshman from New Orleans, Louisiana, won the individual title at the Region XXII Championships in 19:48.2, beating the runner-up by 1 minute, 23 seconds. She also posted victories at the Mississippi College Opener and the UNA Cross Country Invitational earlier this fall.

CENTRAL REGION — Sarah Bertry — North Iowa Area CC

Bertry, a freshman from Bloye, Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, France, won the NJCAA DII Region XI individual title, covering the 5K course in 19:02.6. She posted a victory earlier this fall at the Spartan Classic and never finished outside of the top-5 in any race.

GREAT LAKES REGION — Audrey Meyering — Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC

Meyering, a freshman from Middleville, Michigan, won the individual title at the Region XII Championships in 20:21.8, nearly 23 seconds faster than the runner-up. She also finished in the top-5 of several other meets.

WEST REGION — Lubna Suied — Cowley (Kan.)

Suied, a sophomore from Tomball, Texas, won the overall individual title at the Region VI Championships in 18:05.3. She won four out of the five races in which Cowley College competed this fall and has been named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week three times.

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Judy Wilson — Daytona State (Fla.)

Wilson, in her third year as head coach, guided Daytona State to the program’s first NJCAA Region VIII/FCSAA title in only its third year of competition. Wilson coached four runners to top-10 finishes, including individual champion Harleigh Bilz. The Falcons were the victors in two meets and earned three runner-up finishes during the regular season.

CENTRAL REGION — Ty Wolf — Heartland (Ill.) CC

Wolf, in his first year at Heartland (Ill.) CC, led the Hawks to the NJCAA DII Region XXIV title with 35 points in the program’s first year of cross country. The Hawks also won four other meets as a team this season – the Hillsboro Invitational, Heartland Open, Heartland Invitational and the Topper Invitational 

GREAT LAKES REGION — Matt Sicilia — Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC

Sicilia, in his seventh season at Grand Rapids, guided his Raiders to a team title at the Region XII Championships with 39 points. He coached Audrey Meyering to the individual title as she led the Raiders to its first conference title and regional title in program history.

WEST REGION — Cameron Rieth — Cowley (Kan.)

Rieth, in his first year at Cowley, coached his Tigers to the NJCAA DII Region IV title with 76 points. He guided Lubna Suied, a three-time National Athlete of the Week, to the individual title. The Tigers will enter the NJCAA Championships ranked No. 1 in the division.