2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Nchogu, who hails from Keumbu, Kenya, was named the Men’s National Track Athlete of the Year. He won both events he contested at the 2021 NCJAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, taking the 5000 in 14:44.99 and the 10,000 in 30:39.15. During the regular season, Nchogu was ranked first nationally in the 10,000 and second nationally in the 5000 with times that rank him among the all-time top-15 performers in NJCAA history.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Linga, who hails from Nairobi, Kenya, was named the Women’s National Track Athlete of the Year. She scored 28 points at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to event titles in the 5000 (17:10.14) and 10,000 (36:22.84) and finishing runner-up in the 1500 (4:41.14). During the regular season, Linga broke the NJCAA record in the 10,000 (34:42.65) and became the seventh-best performer in NJCAA history in the 5000 (16:53.25).
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Coke, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, was named the Men’s National Field Athlete of the Year. He swept the horizontal jump titles at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with winning marks of 7.58m (24-10¼) in the long jump and 15.51m (50-10¾) in the triple jump. During the regular season, Coke recorded the third-best long jump effort in NJCAA history of 8.16m (26-9¼) and hit the fourth-best, all-conditions triple jump mark in NJCAA history at 16.70m (54-9½).
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Toledo, who hails from Caracas, Venezuela, was named the Women’s National Field Athlete of the Year. She scored 24 points at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships after winning the heptathlon with 5310 points to become the sixth-best performer in NJCAA history, finishing third in the open javelin, fifth in the open high jump and fifth in the open shot put. During the regular season, Toledo was ranked among the national top-10 in five different field events, including the national-leading mark in the heptathlon.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Schenek, in his 14th year as head coach at Barton County CC, led his team to a share of the national title at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Cougars had multiple scorers in four events and captured two event titles. During the regular season, Barton County CC came on late under Schenek’s direction, taking over the No. 1 spot in the National TFRI in the week before the NJCAA Championships.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Vance, in his fifth year as head coach at South Plains College, led his team to the national title at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was a thrilling win for the Lady Texans, as they needed to beat New Mexico JC in the meet-ending 4×400 relay and did just that to capture the crown. SPC scored points across 14 events, including event titles in the 100, 200, 400, 4×100, long jump and triple jump. During the regular season, the Lady Texans were ranked either first or second each week in the National TFRI.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Edgerton, in his second year as an assistant coach at Barton County CC, helped his men earn a share of the national title at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Cougars had multiple scorers in both the 100 and 200 and finished runner-up in both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Edgerton’s athletes starred a few weeks earlier at the NJCAA Region VI Championships, scoring 96 points and winning every event shorter than 800 meters.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Miller, in his second year as assistant coach at South Plains College, helped his women win the national title at the 2021 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His athletes won event titles in the 100, 200, 400 and 4×100 relay, in addition to compiling 16 All-America honors. During the regular season, his athletes accounted for 14 national top-10 performances.