2021 NJCAA DIII Cross Country Postseason Awards

NEW ORLEANS — Postseason awards for the 2021 NJCAA Division III 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 III Cross Country Championships, which were held this past weekend at Council Farms in Milledgeville, Georgia.

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 DIII Cross Country Championships.

National Men’s Athlete of the Year

Hunter Phillips, Joliet (Ill.) JC

Phillips won the men’s individual title at the 2021 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in 25:39.4. Earlier this season, he won the Region IV Championships in 25:48 and finished fifth in the Greenville Classic in 26:49.6.

National Women’s Athlete of the Year

Julia Danko, Oxford (Ga.)

Danko won the women’s individual title at the 2021 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in 19:55.1. Earlier this season, she won the Region XXVII Championships in 19:40.6 and finished sixth in the Berry Invitational in 23:50.3 (6k).

National Men’s Coach of the Year

Jeff DeGraw, Joliet (Ill.) JC

DeGraw led Joliet (Ill.) JC to the men’s team title at the 2021 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships with 91 points. The Wolves had individual champion Hunter Phillips leading two other top-20 finishers. Joliet also finished second at the Region IV Championships with 37 points and finished fourth at the Heartland Invitational with 123 points.

National Women’s Coach of the Year

Ella O’Kelley, Oxford (Ga.)

O’Kelley led Oxford (Ga.) to the women’s team title at the 2021 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships with 40 points. The Eagles had two top-10 finishers in individual champion Julia Danko and Alexandra Bryant as all five scorers placed in the top-15. Oxford also won the team title at the Region XVII Championships with 15 points and finished fifth at the Berry Invitational with 143 points.

USTFCCCA All-America

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

For an athlete to earn All-America status, they must have finished among the top-15 athletes at the 2021 NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships at Council Farms in Milledgeville, Georgia, and belong to a USTFCCCA member program.

Regional Awards

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

Men’s Athlete of the Year

CENTRAL REGION — Hunter Phillips — Joliet (Ill.) JC

Phillips won the individual title at the NJCAA Region VI Championships in 25:48. Earlier in the season, Phillips placed top-10 in three of his four races, which included a fifth-place finish at the Greenville Classic and a sixth-place finish at the Heartland XC Invitational.

EAST REGION — Teddy Purdon — Brookdale (N.J.) CC

Purdon won the individual title at the NJCAA Region XIX Championships in 28:42. Earlier in the season, Purdon finished third at the Delaware XC Invitational.

NORTHEAST REGION — Logan Van Buren — Clinton (N.Y.) CC

Van Buren won the individual title at the NJCAA Region III Championships in 28:09.5. Earlier in the season, Van Buren placed first at the Cazenovia Homecoming Invitational and finished in the top-10 of three other meets.

Men’s Coach of the Year

CENTRAL REGION — Robert Cervenka — DuPage (Ill.)

Cervenka led College of DuPage (Ill.) to the team title at the Region IV Championships with 33 points. The Chaps were also third at the Heartland Invitational with 80 points.

EAST REGION — Mike Tursi — Brookdale (N.J.) CC

Tursi led Brookdale (N.J.) to the team title at the Region XIX Championships with 42 points. The Jersey Blues were also fifth at the Delaware Invitational with 118 points.

NORTHEAST REGION — Thomas Carter — SUNY Broome CC

Carter led SUNY Broome CC to the team title at the Region III Championships with 28 points. The Hornets also won the Mid-State Conference Championships with 16 points.

Women’s Athlete of the Year

CENTRAL REGION — Tiffany Lehmann — Joliet (Ill.) JC

Lehmann won the individual title at the NJCAA Region IV Championships in 19:36. Earlier in the season, Lehmann notched top-10 finishes at three different meets and was named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week twice during the regular season.

EAST REGION — Bersai Perez — Central Carolina (N.C.) CC

Perez won the individual title at the NJCAA Region X Championships in 23:18. Earlier in the season, Perez posted top-5 finishes at the Smith River XC Classic (third) and the Hagan Stone XC Classic (fifth).

NORTHEAST REGION — Yasmeen Araujo — Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

Araujo won the individual title at the NJCAA Region XV Championships in 21:42. Earlier in the season, Araujo earned a top-10 finish at the Fred Pavlich Invitational.

Women’s Coach of the Year

CENTRAL REGION — Jeff DeGraw — Joliet (Ill.) JC

DeGraw led Joliet (Ill.) JC to the team title at the Region IV Championships with 24 points. The Wolves were also second at the Heartland Invitational with 72 points.

EAST REGION — Richard Briggs — Central Carolina (N.C.) CC

Briggs led Central Carolina (N.C.) CC to the team title at the Region X Championships with 15 points. The Cougars were also third at the Smith River Classic with 49 points.

NORTHEAST REGION — Sarah Popovics — Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC

Popovics led Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC to the team title at the Region III Championships with 31 points. The Vikings also won the Mountain Valley Conference Championships with 20 points.