2021 NJCAA DII Cross Country Postseason Awards

NEW ORLEANS — Postseason awards for the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country season were handed out on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, which were held this past weekend at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Virginia.

SEE MORE: National Awards | All-America | Regional Awards

Scroll below to find out who earned some hardware from the USTFCCCA in 2021!

National Awards

These awards were voted on by member coaches following the NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships.

National Men’s Athlete of the Year

Adrian Diaz-Lopez, Cowley (Kan.)

Diaz-Lopez won the men’s individual title at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 24:52.1. Earlier this season, he won the Missouri Southern Stampede in 24:40.3 and finished seventh in the Region VI Championships in 24:47.6.

National Women’s Athlete of the Year

Sarah Bertry, North Iowa Area CC

Bertry won the women’s individual title at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 18:21.1. Earlier this season, she was second in both the Region XI Championships in 18:01.8 and the Indian Hills Invitational in 18:58.8.

National Men’s Coach of the Year

Cameron Rieth, Cowley (Kan.)

Rieth led Cowley (Kan.) to the men’s team title at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships with 82 points. The Tigers took a huge lead via the 1-2 finish of Adrian Diaz-Lopez and Amos Pkiach. Cowley also won the team title in the Region VI Championships with 24 points as well as the Missouri Southern Stampede with 30 points.

National Women’s Coach of the Year

Jim Robinson, Lansing (Mich.) CC

Robinson led Lansing (Mich.) CC to the women’s team title at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships with 78 points. The Stars had two top-10 finishers in Haley Ellis and Angela Jaycox and placed two other runners in the top-25. Lansing also won the team title at the Region XII Championships with 19 points as well as the Lansing Invitational with 64 points.

USTFCCCA All-America

Here is a list of athletes who earned USTFCCCA All-America honors in NJCAA DII Cross Country.

For an athlete to earn All-America status, they must have finished among the top-15 athletes at the 2021 NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Richmond, Virginia, and belong to a USTFCCCA member program.

Regional Awards

These awards were voted on by member coaches before the NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships.

Men’s Athlete of the Year

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

Martinez set a new NJCAA Region VIII course record of 25:50.3, beating the previous all-time best that he set last year of 26:01. He also turned in strong efforts this season at the Border Clash XC Invitational (third), Embry-Riddle Cross Country Classic (eighth) and the FSU Invite/Pre-Nats against a number of athletes from four-year programs (31st).

CENTRAL REGION — Adrian Diaz-Lopez — Cowley (Kan.)

Diaz-Lopez capped a strong regular season by placing seventh overall at the NJCAA Region VI Championships in 24:47.6. Earlier in the season, Diaz-Lopez won the individual title at the Missouri Southern Stampede and placed top-30 at the Chile Pepper Festival.

GREAT LAKES REGION — Coleman Clark — Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC

Clark ended the regular season on a winning note with back-to-back victories. His most recent triumph came at the NJCAA Region XII Championships, where he covered the 8k distance in 25:56.5. He also won the individual title at the Lansing Cross Country Invitational.

MIDWEST REGION — Melvin Kipkemboi — North Iowa Area CC

Kipkemboi recently defended his NJCAA DII Region XI Championships individual title with a time of 24:28.4. Earlier in the season, Kipkemboi placed runner-up at the Indian Hills Invitational and took fourth place at the Roy Griak Invitational in a program-best mark for the meet.

WEST REGION — Yotuel Garcia — Mesa (Ariz.) CC

Garcia was crowned NJCAA DII Region I champion when he covered the 8k course in 26:14.2 and beat his closest competitor by 25 seconds. His season also included a sixth-place finish at the ACCAC Championships and a ninth-place finish at the Embry-Riddle Invitational.

Men’s Coach of the Year

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

Wilson led Daytona State (Fla.) to the team title at the Region VIII Championships with
Region 8 Championships with 21 points. The Falcons also finished third at the Embry-Riddle Classic with 64 points.

CENTRAL REGION — Cameron Rieth — Cowley (Kan.)

Rieth led Cowley (Kan.) to the team title in the Region VI Championships with 24 points. The Tigers also won the Missouri Southern Stampede with 30 points.

GREAT LAKES REGION — Jim Robinson — Lansing (Mich.) CC

Robinson led Lansing (Mich.) CC to the team title at the Region XII Championships with 29 points. The Stars were also second at the Lansing Invitational with 112 points.

MIDWEST REGION — Curtis Vais — North Iowa Area CC

Vais led North Iowa Area CC to the team title at the Region XI Championships with 21 points. The Trojans also finished second at the Trent Smith Invitational with 39 points.

WEST REGION — Dave Barney — Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC

Barney led Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC to the team title at the Region I Championships with 27 points. The Pumas also finished third in the Arizona Conference Championships with 52 points.

Women’s Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Harleigh Bilz Crist — Daytona State (Fla.)

Bilz Crist set a new Region VIII course record of 19:37.3, besting the previous all-time best of 19:44 established by Olivia D’Angelo in 2018. Earlier this season, Bilz Crist also turned in a seventh-place finish at the Embry-Riddle Cross Country Classic.

CENTRAL REGION — Karissa Glover — Cowley (Kan.)

Glover finished as the top NJCAA DII individual at the NJCAA Region VI Championships with a time of 19:41.3. Earlier in the season, Glover earned top-5 honors at both the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic (third) and the Missouri Southern Stampede (fifth).

GREAT LAKES REGION — Haley Ellis — Lansing (Mich.) CC

Ellis won the individual title at the NJCAA Region XII Championships in 19:18.7. Earlier in the season, Ellis also placed first at the Lansing Cross Country Invitational and the Olivet Comet College Invitational.

MIDWEST REGION — Sarah Bertry — North Iowa Area CC

Bertry finished as the top NJCAA DII individual (second overall) at the NJCAA Region XI Championships with a time of 18:01.8. Just two weeks before, Bertry took runner-up honors at the Indian Hills Invitational.

WEST REGION — Kate Brockman — Mesa (Ariz.) CC

Brockman won the individual title at the NJCAA DII Region I Championships in 19:20.0. Earlier in the season, Brockman also placed first at the ACCAC Championships and finished top-5 at the Embry-Riddle Invitational.

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Jacki Wachtel — Pasco-Hernando (Fla.)

Wachtel led Pasco-Hernandez (Fla.) to the team title at the Region VIII Championships with 53 points. The Conquistadors also won the Tallahassee CC Open with 25 points.

CENTRAL REGION — Samantha Shores — UA Rich Mountain (Ark.)

Shores led UA Rich Mountain (Ark.) to the team title at the Region II Championships with 25 points. The Bucks were also second at the Lois Davis Invitational with 76 points.

GREAT LAKES REGION — Jim Robinson — Lansing (Mich.) CC

Robinson led Lansing (Mich.) CC to the team title at the Region XII Championships with 19 points. The Stars were also second at the Lansing Invitational with 64 points.

MIDWEST REGION — Tyler Mulder — Hawkeye (Iowa) CC

Mulder led Hawkeye (Iowa) CC to the team title at the Region XI Championships with 37 points. The RedTails were also fourth at the Les Duke Invitational with 111 points.

WEST REGION — Dan Pescador — Mesa (Ariz.) CC

Pescador led Mesa (Ariz.) CC to the team title at the Region I Championships with 17 points. The Thunderbirds were also second at the Arizona Conference Championships with 55 points.