2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards

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

Each of the five regions – Great Lakes, Midwest, South, South Central 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. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

Many of these honored athletes and coaches are headed to the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships next week in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Cortez Cunningham – Madonna (Mich.)

Cunningham, a senior from Ypsilant, Michigan, is ranked among the top-10 national seasonal performers in the 200 meters (No. 5, 20.89) and 100 meters (No. 7, 10.40). He scored 20½ points at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships behind an individual victory in the 200, a runner-up showing in the 100 and being part of the title-winning 4×100 relay.

MIDWEST REGION – Ben Jefferies – Briar Cliff (Iowa)

Jefferies, a sophomore from Bristol, England, is ranked first nationally in the 400 meters at 46.00 and seventh nationally in the 200 meters at 21.02. He won both events at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a conference record in the half-lap race.

SOUTH REGION – Joseph Taylor – Southeastern (Fla.)

Taylor, a sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana, is ranked third nationally in the 200 meters at 20.86 and fourth nationally in the 100 meters at 10.36. He is the only athlete in the South Region to be ranked among the top-3 in every sprint event, including as part of a relay team. Taylor won conference titles in both the 100 and 200, and helped two conference record-setting relay teams.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Shimales Abebe – Oklahoma City

Abebe, a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, is ranked first nationally in the 5000 meters at 13:50.36 and second nationally in the steeplechase at 9:03.00. He is undefeated in both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters this season.

WEST REGION – Senzo Sokhela – Westmont (Calif.)

Sokhela, a sophomore from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, is ranked first nationally in both the 800 meters (1:48.00) and 1500 meters (3:42.31).

Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Thomas Jackson – Bethel (Ind.)

Jackson, a redshirt senior from Gary, Indiana, is ranked fourth nationally in the triple jump at 14.98m (49-1¾) and fifth nationally in the long jump at 7.52m (24-8¼). He went undefeated in the long jump this outdoor season and won the event title at the Crossroads Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships by almost 30cm. Jackson also swept the horizontal jumps at the NCCAA Outdoor Championships and hit his seasonal best in the triple jump at that meet.

MIDWEST REGION – Dylan Kucera – Midland (Neb.)

Kucera, a junior from Fremont, Nebraska, is ranked first nationally in the shot put at 18.95m (62-2¼) and second nationally in the discus at 54.90m (180-2). He completed the discus-shot put sweep at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set a conference meet record in the shot. Kucera has dominated the shot, owning all of the top-18 marks in the division. 

SOUTH REGION – Dustin Blevins – Montreat (N.C.)

Blevins, a sophomore from King, North Carolina, is ranked second nationally in both the long jump (7.56m/24-9¾) and triple jump (15.15m/49-8½). He set a meet record at the AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships when he won the long jump with his seasonal best.  

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Dylan Templeman – McPherson (Kan.)

Templeman, a senior from Princeton, Texas, was only the second male athlete in KCAC history to win the discus, hammer and shot put at the same conference championships. He is ranked among the top-6 national performers in both the discus (No. 3, 54.79m/179-9) and shot put (No. 6, 17.18m/56-4½). Templeman holds conference records in the discus and hammer.

WEST REGION – Rowan Hamilton – British Columbia

Hamilton, a sophomore from Chilliwack, British Columbia, is the collegiate leader in the hammer throw with a mark of 75.98m (249-3). Earlier this season, Hamilton broke his own NAIA record in the event with his seasonal-best mark at the Oregon Twilight. Hamilton is the proud owner of each of the top-14 hammer throws in the NAIA this season.

Men’s Coach of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Mike Holman – Marian (Ind.)

Holman, in his 10th year at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to the team title at the Crossroads League Championships with 173 points. Marian has four top-10 national marks (including No. 1 in the pole vault) and five top-10 #EventSquad Rankings (including No. 1 in the discus).

MIDWEST REGION – Dan Tomlin – St. Ambrose (Iowa)

Tomlin, in his 15th year at St. Ambrose (Iowa), led the Fighting Bees to the team title at the Chicagoland Conference Championships with 253 points. St. Ambrose has five top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 2 in the shot put.

SOUTH REGION – Nick Dodson – Southeastern (Fla.)

Dodson, in his fourth year at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to a season-long rankings of No. 1 in the South Region and No. 2 nationally. Southeastern won the team title at the Sun Conference Championships and had five top-3 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 1 in the 110 hurdles.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Alstin Benton – Saint Mary (Kan.)

Benton, in his ninth year at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the team title at the KCAC Championships with 215 points. Saint Mary had eight top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 1 in the half-marathon.

WEST REGION – Ben Welch – Eastern Oregon

Welch, in his 31st year at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships with 190 points. Eastern Oregon had six top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 2 in the pole vault.

Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Jacob Poyner – Grace (Ind.)

Poyner, in his third year as assistant coach at Grace (Ind.), coached the Lancers mid-distance and distance runners to school records in five events outdoors. He had two events finish top-5 in the #EventSquad Rankings, 1500 at No. 4 and 800 at No. 5.

MIDWEST REGION – David Gonzalez – St. Ambrose (Iowa)

Gonzalez, in his fourth year as assistant coach at St. Ambrose (Iowa), coached the Fighting Bees throwers to account for 72 points in the Chicagoland Conference Championships. The throwing crew was most impressive in the shot put, taking the top five places as the unit rated No. 2 in the #EventSquad Rankings.

SOUTH REGION – Britten Olinger – Montreat (N.C.)

Olinger, in his fifth year at Montreat (N.C.), coached the Cavaliers jumpers to account for 25 points at the Appalachian Conference Championships. The long jump unit combined for a No. 6 #EventSquad Ranking as Dustin Blevins rated No. 2 in the long jump as well as the triple jump.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Frank Wallace – Wayland Baptist (Texas)

Wallace, in his third year at Wayland Baptist (Texas), coached three Pioneers to top-5 marks in four individual events in the South Central Regions. His sprinters and jumpers were led by Zachary Johnson, who ranked No. 2 in the long jump and No. 3 in the triple jump.

WEST REGION – Connor Bracken – Eastern Oregon

Bracken, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Eastern Oregon, coached athletes to account for 146 of the Mountaineer’s 190 points in winning the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships. His athletes won six events, two of which racked up top-5 #EventSquad Rankings (high jump at No. 3, triple jump at No. 4).

Women’s Track Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Lisa Voyles – Indiana Tech

Voyles, a sophomore from Danville, Kentucky, leads the nation in the 800 meters at 2:08.44 and is ranked seventh nationally in the 1500 meters at 4:29.99. She won the 800 at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set conference and school records during the year.

MIDWEST REGION – Sabrina Baftiri – St. Francis (Ill.)

Baftiri, a senior from Morris, Illinois, is ranked among the top-10 athletes nationally in both the 5000 meters (No. 9, 16:55.89) and 1500 meters (No. 10, 4:31.17). Both of those marks put her at the top of the Midwest Region.

SOUTH REGION – Praise Idamadudu – Cumberland (Tenn.)

Idamadudu, a freshman from Nigeria, is ranked first nationally in both the 200 meters (22.96) and 400 meters (52.27). She clocked both of her seasonal bests at the Mid-South Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Idamadudu also has a seasonal best of 11.76 in the 100 meters.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Raheema Westfall – Wayland Baptist (Texas)

Westfall, a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, is ranked first nationally in the 100 meters at 11.23 and second nationally in the 200 meters at 23.33. Earlier in the season, Westfall was a finalist in the 100 meters at the Texas Relays, where she was the only non-NCAA DI athlete in the field.

WEST REGION – Becca Richtman – Montana Tech

Richtman, a senior from Elburn, Illinois, scored 40 points at the Frontier Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with individual titles in the steeplechase, 5000 meters and 10,000 meters, a runner-up individual effort in the 800 meters and was part of the runner-up 4×400 relay. She is ranked among the top-10 seasonal performers in everything from the 1500 to the 10,000 meters: 1500 (No. 8), steeplechase (No. 2), 5000 meters (No. 2) and 10,000 meters (No. 10).

Women’s Field Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Destiny Copeland – Indiana Tech

Copeland, a junior from Chesapeake, Virginia, is ranked first nationally in the triple jump at 12.47m (40-11) and third nationally in the long jump at 5.95m (19-6¼). She swept the horizontal jump titles at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was the Penn Relays runner-up in the Collegiate Division of the triple jump.

MIDWEST REGION – Madison Green – Grand View (Iowa)

Green, a freshman from West Des Moines, Iowa, is ranked second nationally in both the discus (49.40m/162-1) and hammer (55.34m/181-7). She won both of those events at the Heart of America Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships and placed sixth in the shot put.

SOUTH REGION – Brittany Jones – William Carey (Miss.)

Jones, a senior from Soso, Mississippi, is ranked second nationally in the long jump at 6.00m (19-8¼) and third nationally in the triple jump at 12.30m (40-4¼). She was named the SSAC Field Athlete of the Year after winning both the high jump and long jump, and taking runner-up honors in the triple jump at the SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Kortney Schutt – Friends (Kan.)

Schutt, a senior from Wichita, Kansas, is ranked first nationally in the discus at 51.39m (168-7) and third nationally in the hammer at 54.72m (179-7). She scored 28 points at the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was named the KCAC Field Athlete of the Meet (Schutt won both the discus and shot put, and finished runner-up showing in the hammer).

WEST REGION – Michelle Flint – William Jessup (Calif.)

Flint, a senior from Grass Valley, California, nearly pulled off an incredible quadruple at the GSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She won the discus, hammer and shot put titles, and placed runner-up in the javelin for a total of 38 points. Flint is ranked among the top-10 regional performers in both the shot put (No. 6) and hammer (No. 10).

Women’s Coach of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Doug Edgar – Indiana Tech

Edgar, in his 13th year at Indiana Tech, led the Warriors to a No. 1 ranking in the Great Lakes Region and No. 2 ranking nationally. Indiana Tech won the team title at the Wolverine-Hoosier Conference Championships and had No. 1 #EventSquad Rankings in six events.

MIDWEST REGION – Kyle Rago – Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)

Rago, in his second year at Olivet-Nazarene (Ill.), led the Tigers to the team title at the Chicagoland Conference Championships with a meet-record 352 points, winning by 238 points. Olivet-Nazarene is ranked No. 9 nationally with four top-5 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by the shot put at No. 2.

SOUTH REGION – Nick Dodson – Southeastern (Fla.)

Dodson, in his fourth year at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to the team title at the Sun Conference Championships with a meet-record 308.5 points. Southeastern has a school-record 14 national qualifiers, with two top-5 #EventSquad Rankings, the 100 and 4000 both at No. 5.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Alstin Benton – Saint Mary (Kan.)

Benton, in his ninth year at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the team title at the KCAC Championships with 228 points. Saint Mary, ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region, has four top-5 #EventSquad Rankings, topped No. 2 spots in the steeplechase and triple jump.

WEST REGION – Laurier Primeau – British Columbia

Primeau, in his seventh year at British Columbia, led the Thunderbirds to the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships with 222 points and 10 event winners. British Columbia has five events rating No. 1 in the #EventSquad Rankings – 1500, steeplechase, 5000, 5000 race walk and javelin. 

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Quinn White – Taylor (Ind.)

White, in his 12th year as assistant coach at Taylor (Ind.), coached seven Trojan distance runners in five events to the national championships. His distance crew gave Taylor two top-5 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 3 in the steeplechase.

MIDWEST REGION – Ed McLaughlin – Concordia (Neb.)

McLaughlin, in his 25th year as assistant coach at Concordia (Neb.), coached the Bulldogs throwers to No. 1 #EventSquad Rankings in three events – shot put, discus and hammer. His throwers combined for eight automatic qualifying berths to the national championships.

SOUTH REGION – Ryan McKenzie – William Carey (Miss.)

McKenzie, in his eighth year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), coached the Crusaders sprinters to a No. 2 rating in the #EventSquad Rankings 100 meters. He coach the Southern States Conference Athletes of the Year in both the track (Joy Abu) and field (Brittany Jones) categories.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Frank Wallace – Wayland Baptist (Texas)

Wallace, in his third year as assistant coach at Wayland Baptist (Texas), coached three Pioneer athletes to national qualifying berths. His top pupil, Raheema Westfall, rated No. 1 in the 100 and No. 2 in the 200.

WEST REGION – Mark Badowsky – Southern Oregon

Badowsky, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Southern Oregon, coached athletes who accounted for 110 of the Raiders’ 148 points in finishing second at the Cascade Conference Championships. His athletes racked up five top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 1 in the heptathlon and No. 2 in the 400.