Award History
NCAA DI XC National Awards2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country season were announced on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
USTFCCCA National Award History: Athletes of the Year | Coaches of the Year
Awards were voted on by member coaches based on results from both the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, and during the regular season.
Scroll below to find out more about each of the winners.
National Men's Athlete of the Year
Conner Mantz, who hails from Smithfield, Utah, went out on top. The BYU standout defended his individual title at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships – and capped an undefeated season – when he traversed the 10k tract at Apalachee Regional Park in a course-record 28:33.1. It was an incredibly consistent run from Mantz in Tallahassee, Florida, as he covered the first 5k in 14:16.4 and the second 5k in 14:16.7. Earlier in the season, Mantz placed first at three other notables meets, including the Mountain Region Championships, the West Coast Conference Championships and the FSU Invite/Pre-National Invitational.
The Lance Harter Award
National Women's Athlete of the Year
Whittni Orton, who hails from Panguitch, Utah, wasn’t going to be denied. The BYU star captured the individual title at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in 19:25.4, nearly four seconds faster than defending champion Mercy Chelangat of Alabama. Orton was one of nine women within one second of the lead at the 5k split on the Apalachee Regional Park course in Tallahassee, Florida, but powered home over the final 1k in 3:00.6 for the win. While Orton only raced three times this season, she certainly made each of them count: Orton finished the season undefeated with first-place finishes in both the FSU XC Open and West Coast Conference Championships.
The Bill Dellinger Award
National Men's Coach of the Year
Michael Smith, in his fifth year as head coach at Northern Arizona, led the Lumberjacks to the team title at the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in a dominant effort. NAU’s entire scoring lineup earned All-America honors as Abdihamid Nur (seventh), Nico Young (11th), Drew Bosley (13th), George Kusche (37th) and Brodey Hasty (39th) all finished in the top-40. It turned out to be a 45-point victory for the Lumberjacks in Tallahassee, Florida. Earlier in the season, NAU finished runner-up at the Mountain Region Championships and topped the podium at three different notable meets (Big Sky Championships, FSU Invite/Pre-National Invitational and the Cowboy Jamboree).
The Peter Tegen Award
National Women's Coach of the Year
Laurie Henes, in her 16th year as head coach at NC State, led the Wolfpack to the team title at the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. All five of NC State’s scoring athletes earned All-America honors as Kelsey Chmiel (sixth), Katelyn Tuohy (15th), Alexandra Hays (22nd), Hannah Steelman (24th) and Samantha Bush (32nd) finished among the top-40 individuals at Apalachee Regional Park. The Wolfpack scored 84 points to win by 42. Earlier in the season, NC State also romped to top honors at the Southeast Region Championships, the ACC Championships as well as the Joe Piane Invitational.