2022 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2022 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Each of the four regions – Atlantic, Central, Midwest and West – honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches prior to the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Karim Belmahdi – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Belmahdi, a freshman from Chlef, Algeria, qualified in four events for the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships, best of which is in the steeplechase, where he is ranked third nationally at 9:09.40. He also sits among the national leaders in the 1500 meters at 3:49.59 and added strong marks in the 800 meters and 5000 meters to his resume.

CENTRAL REGION – Dennis Mutai – Garden City (Kan.) CC

Mutai, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, is ranked first nationally in the 10,000 meters at 29:15.99 and second nationally in the 5000 meters at 14:11.03. He was the KJCCC. Region VI champion in the 5000m and finished runner-up in the 10,000m. Mutai earned NJCAA National Athlete of the Week and KJCCC Athlete of the Week honors during the season.

MIDWEST REGION – Yared Kidane – Iowa Central CC

Kidane, a freshman from Eskilstuna, Sweden, is ranked seventh nationally in the 1500 meters at 3:49.92, a mark that he used to win the Region XI title and set a meet record. He is also ranked eighth nationally in the 800 meters at 1:50.79 and placed runner-up in that event at the Region XI Championships. Kidane also anchored the Region XI champion 4×800 relay.

WEST REGION – Chris Robinson – South Plains (Texas)

Robinson, a sophomore from Tallahassee, Florida, broke the NJCAA record in the 400-meter hurdles with his 49.18 effort at the Texas Tech Corky Classic. That time also puts him eighth on the All-College Descending Order List, which combines marks from all divisions.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Kam Tuttle – Louisburg (N.C.)

Tuttle, a freshman, is ranked 10th nationally in the long jump at 7.39m (24-3).

CENTRAL REGION – Dennis Ohene-Adu – Coffeyville (Kan.) CC

Ohene-Adu, a sophomore from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was the High Point Athlete of the Region VI Championships after scoring 22 points in throwing events. He finished second in both the discus and hammer, as well as a third-place effort in the shot. Ohene-Adu is ranked second nationally in the hammer with his 57.49m (188-8) effort at the Sooner Invitational & Multis.

MIDWEST REGION – Aries Scott – Iowa Central CC

Scott, a sophomore from Norfolk, Virginia, was the Region XI champion in both the decathlon and pole vault, and finished fifth in the long jump. He is ranked ninth nationally in the decathlon with his 5698 total from the Region XI/ICCAC Outdoor Championships.

WEST REGION – Thomas Nieto – South Plains (Texas)

Nieto, a freshman from Ibague, Colombia, is ranked first nationally in the pole vault at 5.41m (17-9), a mark that sits No. 2 on the all-time chart. He has jumped over 5.00m (16-4¾) in every meet since February and topped 5.35m (17-6½) at three different meets this outdoor season.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Marty Rogier – Vincennes (Ind.)

Rogier, in his second year at Vincennes (Ind.), led the Trailblazers to a No. 1 team ranking in the Atlantic Region. Vincennes had four top-15 national rankings.

CENTRAL REGION – Harry Kitchener – Cloud County (Kan.) CC

Kitchener, in his 45th year at Cloud County (Kan.) CC, led the Thunderbirds to the team title at the Region VI and Jayhawk West Conference Championships. Cloud County won six events and entered the national championships with two national leaders.

MIDWEST REGION – Douglas Marshall – Iowa Western CC

Marshall, in his fourth year at Iowa Western CC, led the Reivers to the team title at the Region XI Championships, winning eight events. Iowa Western entered the national championships with 16 top-10 marks.

WEST REGION – Erik Vance – South Plains (Texas)

Vance, in his sixth year at South Plains (Texas), led the Texans to a season-long No. 1 ranking in the national TFRI. South Plains entered the national championships with No. 1 marks in seven events.

Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Shirvon Greene – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Greene, in his 13th year as associate head coach at Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.), coached runners to top-5 spots in the Atlantic Region in eight events, most in the region. Two of his athletes rate No. 1 in the region.

CENTRAL REGION – Glenwood Edwards Jr. – Cowley (Kan.)

Edwards, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Cowley (Kan.), coached the nation’s No. 1-ranked hammer squad. His throwers amassed for 38 of Cowley’s 89.5 points in the Region VI Championships.

MIDWEST REGION – Jerramuse Amos – Iowa Western CC

Amos, in his second year as assistant coach at Iowa Western CC, coached the Reivers’ hurdlers to having three of the top-8 in the nation combining the 110 and 400 hurdles. His hurdlers were the only group with three among the top-3 in the region.

WEST REGION – Wes Miller – South Plains (Texas)

Miller, in his third year as assistant coach at South Plains (Texas), coached the NJCAA record holder in the 400 hurdles as well as the No. 2 all-time 800-meter runner and No. 2 all-time 4×800 team. 

Women’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Aaliyah Moore – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Moore, a sophomore from Georgetown, Guyana, is ranked first nationally in the 800 meters with her mark of 2:08.58. She is also ranked third nationally in the 1500 meters at 4:40.73. Moore ran both of those marks at the North Carolina A&T Aggie Classic in April.

CENTRAL REGION – Miracle Thompson – Cloud County (Kan.) CC

Thompson, a freshman from Abia State, Nigeria, won the 100-meter hurdles at the Region VI Championships with an NJCAA-leading 13.22, which also set a meet record. She scored 14½ total points in track events with a top-8 finish in the 400H and helping out on the 4×100 relay. 

MIDWEST REGION – Hilda Chebet – Iowa Western CC

Chebet, a freshman from Trans-Nzoia, Kenya, is ranked first nationally in both the 1500 meters (4:40.98) and 5000 meters (16:07.40), and second nationally in the 10,000 meters (37:16.60). She recorded the second-fastest 5000m effort in NJCAA history of 16:07.40 in a runner-up finish at the prestigious Drake Relays.

WEST REGION – Damaris Chewon – New Mexico JC

Chewon, a freshman from Kapsabet, Kenya, is ranked first nationally in the 10,000 meters at 36:33.60 and second nationally in the 5000 meters at 17:19.11. She is undefeated in the 5000m this outdoor season.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Kristin Stickdorn – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Stickdorn, a sophomore from Beckingen, Germany, is ranked first nationally in the hammer at 53.66m (176-1). She is the region’s top-ranked athlete in the hammer, discus and shot, and has qualified for the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the hammer and discus.

CENTRAL REGION – Nia Robinson – Barton (Kan.) CC

Robinson, a sophomore from Lucea, Jamaica, is ranked first nationally in both the long jump (6.40m/21-0) and triple jump (12.87m/42-2¾), as well as second nationally in the high jump. She scored 30 points at the Region VI Championships with a sweep of all three events. 

MIDWEST REGION – Miracle Ailes – Iowa Western CC

Ailes, a freshman from Keokuk, Iowa, leads the nation in the high jump at 1.85m (6-0¾) and sits third nationally in the long jump at 6.30m (20-8). She won both the high jump and long jump at the Region XI/ICCAC Championships and notched the fifth-best high-jump clearance in NJCAA history in the process. 

WEST REGION – Princess Kara – Central Arizona

Kara, a sophomore from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, leads the nation in the discus at 55.57m (182-4) and sits second in the shot put at 15.03m (49-3¾). She is the No. 2 performer in NJCAA history with her 55.57m (182-4) effort in the discus from the Bryan Clay Invitational in mid-April. 

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Lesleigh Hogg – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Hogg, in his eighth year at Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.), led the Mustangs to a No. 1 ranking in the Atlantic Region and No. 11 nationally. Monroe is ranked No. 1 regionally in nine events.

CENTRAL REGION – Drew Mahin – Cloud County (Kan.) CC

Mahin, in his ninth year at Cloud County (Kan.) CC, led the T-Birds to team titles at the Region VI and KJCCC West Championships, winning seven events in the regional battle. Cloud County entered the national championships with the top mark in three events.

MIDWEST REGION – Douglas Marshall – Iowa Western CC

Marshall, in his fourth year at Iowa Western CC, led the Reivers to the team title in the Region XI Championships. Iowa Western entered the national championships No. 1 in the TFRI with leading marks in three events.

WEST REGION – Keith Blackwill – New Mexico JC

Blackwill, in his 16th year at New Mexico JC, led the T-Birds to a No. 1 ranking in the West Region, rating among the top-3 nationally all season. New Mexico entered the national championships with top-2 marks in four events.

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Shirvon Greene – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Greene, in his 13th year as associate head coach at Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.), guided athletes to rank among the top-3 in the Atlantic Region in six events. His top pupil, Aaliyah Moore, leads the nation in the 800 and is No. 3 in the 1500.

CENTRAL REGION – Emmanuel Dixon – Barton (Kan.) CC

Dixon, in his first year as assistant coach at Barton (Kan.) CC, coached six sprint/hurdle Cougars to top-3 spots in the Central Region in individual events, plus two top-2 relay spots. His top two athletes, Ashantae Harvey and Lashanna Graham, lead the 400 and 400 hurdles, respectively, and run on the nation’s leading 4×400 squad as well.

MIDWEST REGION – Shellene Williams – Iowa Western CC

Williams, in her 10th year as associate head coach at Iowa Western CC, coached Reiver sprinters to account for seven performances among the top-8 nationally. Her top two pupils, Tirecia Walcott and Nickisha Pryce, rate No. 3 in the 100 and 400, respectively, with Pryce also anchoring the nation’s No. 2 4×400 squad.

WEST REGION – Tabarie Henry – New Mexico JC

Henry, in his third year as assistant coach at New Mexico JC, coached the T-Birds 100 hurdles group to the national No. 1 #EventSquad Ranking. In addition, his sprinters earned No. 1 #EventSquad Rankings in the West Region 100 and 200.