Award History
NCAA DIII OTF Regional Awards2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the regular season.
Many of these winners will end their seasons at the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, set for this weekend at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Information on each of the winners can be found below.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
EAST REGION – Oliver Thomas – WPI
Thomas, who hails from Goffstown, New Hampshire, is ranked third nationally in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.20. He won the 110H crown at both the New England Division III Track & Field Championships, as well as the NEICAAA Track & Field Championships. Thomas is also ranked fourth regionally in the 400-meter hurdles at 54.95.
GREAT LAKES REGION – JP Vaught – Centre
Vaught, who hails from Somerset, Kentucky, is among the top performers in NCAA Division III history in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. Earlier this season, Vaught broke the NCAA DIII record in the 200 with his 20.66 clocking and moved up to No. 3 all-time in the 100 meters with his 10.21 effort. Vaught is also ranked seventh nationally in the 400 meters at 47.35.
METRO REGION – Cheickna Traore – Ramapo
Traore, who hails from Jersey City, New Jersey, is ranked among the top-5 seasonal performers in both the 400 meters (No. 3, 46.89) and 200 meters (No. 4, 20.96). His mark in the 400 meters came in a winning effort at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships and set a meet record.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Owen Buhr – Lebanon Valley
Burh, who hails from Hanover, Pennsylvania, is ranked ninth nationally in the 400-meter hurdles at 52.91, a mark he ran at the Swarthmore Final Qualifying Meet. He was the Top Male Point Scorer at the Mid-Atlantic Conference Outdoor Championships after scoring 30½ points thanks to winning the 200 meters, 110-meter hurdles, running a leg on the winning 4×100 relay and finishing runner-up in the 100 meters.
MIDEAST REGION – Aidan Ryan – Williams
Ryan, who hails from New York, New York, is ranked second nationally in both the 1500 meters (3:45.18) and 5000 meters (14:01.12), which are both school records. He captured the 800-1500 sweep at the NESCAC Outdoor Championships and led Williams to a runner-up finish.
MIDWEST REGION – Dallas Wright – Wartburg
Wright, who hails from Carlisle, Iowa, is ranked among the top-10 seasonal performers in three different individual events: 400-meter hurdles (No. 1, 50.88), 400 meters (No. 2, 46.87) and the 200 meters (No. 7, 21.09). He moved up to No. 8 on the NCAA DIII all-time chart in the 400H with the mark that he ran to finish third at the Drake Relays. Wright starred at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships, winning individual titles in the 200 and 400, toting the baton on both the winning 4×400 relay and the runner-up 4×100 relay teams.
NIAGARA REGION – Naquille Harris – SUNY Delhi
Harris, who hails from Bronx, New York, is ranked fifth nationally in both the 100 meters (10.35) and 200 meters (21.07). He completed the 100-200 double at both the North Atlantic Conference Outdoor Championships as well as the AARTFC Outdoor Championships with meet record times.. Harris also took home NAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year honors.
NORTH REGION – Sam Blaskowski – UW-La Crosse
Blaskowski, who hails from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is ranked first nationally in the 100 meters at a wind-aided 10.14, which doubles as the third-fastest all-conditions mark in NCAA DIII history. He is also ranked third nationally in the 200 meters at a wind-aided 20.80 that he ran to win the event title at the WIAC Outdoor Championships. Blaskowski scored 22 points at the conference meet with the 100-200 double, as well as a carry on the runner-up 4×100 relay team.
SOUTH REGION – Eric Gregory – Gallaudet
Gregory, who hails from Metairie, Louisiana, broke the NCAA DIII record in the 200 meters with his 20.62 effort at the CSAC Outdoor Championships. He is also ranked third nationally in the 400 meters at 46.89. Gregory starred at both the CSAC Outdoor Championships as well as the ECAC Outdoor Championships, completing the 100-200-400 triple at both meets.
WEST REGION – Colin Kirkpatrick – Pomona-Pitzer
Kirkpatrick, who hails from Queenstown, New Zealand, is ranked first nationally in the steeplechase at 8:46.96, a mark that puts him No. 6 in NCAA DIII history. He broke the meet record in the event at the SCIAC Outdoor Championships with his 8:55.86 winner. Kirkpatrick also has seasonal bests of 1:52.49 (800), 3:47.84 (1500) and 14:23.65 (5000).
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
EAST REGION – Corey Stalters – Bridgewater State
Stalters, who hails from Norton, Massachusetts, is ranked third nationally in the javelin at 66.74m (219-0). He won the javelin crown at both the MASCAC Outdoor Championships as well as the New England DIII Outdoor Championships, and took third place at the All-New England Outdoor Championships with his seasonal best.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Tanner Slack – Mount Union
Slack, who hails from New Concord, Ohio, is ranked fifth nationally in the high jump at 2.06m (6-9). He was named the Outstanding Male Field Athlete of the Meet at the OAC Outdoor Championships after scoring 18 points with a victory in the high jump and a runner-up finish in the triple jump.
METRO REGION – Greg Poloso – Rowan
Poloso, who hails from Wayne, New Jersey, tops the national chart in the javelin at 70.39m (230-11) and is ranked No. 7 all-time in NCAA DIII history. He is undefeated against all competitors this season in the javelin and threw 64.50m (211-7) or further in every meet.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Bram Miller – Carnegie Mellon
Miller, who hails from Colgate, Wisconsin, is ranked third nationally in the shot put at 17.67m (57-11¾) and 11th nationally in the discus at 51.38m (168-7). He was named the UAA Male Field Athlete of the Year after winning both of those events at the conference championships.
MIDEAST REGION – Josh Silvester – Springfield (Mass.)
Silvester, who hails from Manchester, Connecticut, is ranked seventh nationally in the triple jump at 14.97m (49-1½). He won the triple jump at both the New England DIII Outdoor Championships as well as the NEWMAC Outdoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Brock Lewis – Central (Iowa)
Lewis, who hails from Lathrop, Missouri, is ranked first nationally in the long jump at a wind-aided 7.58m (24-10½). He finished in a fourth-place tie in his signature event at the Drake Relays behind NCAA DI and NCAA DII athletes. Lewis starred at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships as he won the long jump and took runner-up honors in the triple jump with his seasonal best of 13.99m (45-10¾).
NIAGARA REGION – Kyle Rollins – St. John Fisher
Rollins, who hails from Groveland, New York, is ranked first nationally in both the high jump (2.12m/6-11½) and triple jump (15.11m/49-7). He swept both jumps at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships and scored 18 points at the Empire 8 Conference Championships.
NORTH REGION – Kevin Ruechel – UW-Stout
Ruechel, who hails from Pulaski, Wisconsin, is ranked first nationally in the shot put at 18.29m (60-0¼) and third nationally in the discus at 54.45m (178-8). He scored 21 of UW-Stout’s 109 points at the WIAC Outdoor Championships thanks to a discus-shot put sweep as well as an eighth-place showing in the hammer throw.
SOUTH REGION – Joe O’Connor – Washington and Lee
O’Connor, who hails from Richmond, Virginia, is ranked second nationally in the pole vault at 5.05m (16-6¾), a mark that is the highest bar ever cleared by an ODAC vaulter in conference history. He is undefeated in the pole vault this season through six competitions.
WEST REGION – Keaton Wood – Linfield
Wood, who hails from Lake Oswego, Oregon, is ranked first nationally in the decathlon with 7254 points, a total that also puts him sixth in NCAA DIII history. He placed second in the decathlon at the Adams-Klein Combined Event Invitational behind a professional athlete.
Men’s Coach of the Year
EAST REGION – JJ Hunter – MIT
Hunter, in his first year at MIT, led the Engineers to the team title at the NEWMAC Outdoor Championships and the New England DIII Championship. The Engineers also placed fourth in the team standings at the All-New England Championship. Hunter coached eight athletes to national top-20 rankings, including the top-ranked athlete in the pole vault. MIT is ranked No. 29 in the USTFCCCA National TFRI.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Kyle Basista – John Carroll
Basista, in his eighth year at John Carroll, led the Blue Streaks to a runner-up finish at the OAC Outdoor Championships with a program-record 221 points. John Carroll has five top-3 national marks, including the top-ranked athlete in both the 5000 and 10,000, in addition to having three top-3 #EventSquad Rankings (5000, 10,000, steeplechase). The Blue Streaks, currently ranked No. 5 in the National TFRI and No. 1 in the region, will be represented by eight individual qualifiers and a relay at the NCAA Championships.
METRO REGION – Dustin Dimit – Rowan
Dimit, in his eighth year at Rowan, led the Profs to the team titles at the NJAC Outdoor Championships and AARTFC Championships. Rowan has four top-4 #EventSquad Rankings, including the 400H and javelin both at No. 1. The Profs, who have been ranked among the top-3 nationally all season, will have 14 entries for the NCAA Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Gary Aldrich – Carnegie Mellon
Aldrich, in his eighth year at Carnegie Mellon, has his team ranked No. 1 in the region all season and as high as No. 2 in the USTFCCCA National TFRI. Athletes under Aldrich’s guidance have broken five school records and turned in 21 top-5 marks in program history. The Tartans have 11 entries for the NCAA Championships. CMU finished runner-up at the UAA Championships.
MIDEAST REGION – Ethan Barron – Williams
Barron, in his seventh year at Williams, has led the Ephs to five top-13 national performances and are No. 1 in the Mideast Region in six events. Williams holds three top-3 #EventSquad Rankings, including the top-ranked 5000 and 10,000. The Ephs finished runner-up at the NESCAC Outdoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Chad Gunnelson – Dubuque
Gunnelson, in his 11th year at Dubuque, led the Spartans to the team title at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships, with his sprints, jumps and hurdles, group scoring 135 of the team’s 194 point total. The Spartans set eight school records, broke three ARC Championship records and notched a top-3 NCAA DIII all-time performance. Dubuque has seven top-15 national rankings, including the top-ranked 4×400 relay, and own six top-10 #EventSquad Rankings.
NIAGARA REGION – Chris Popovici – SUNY Geneseo
Popovici, in his eighth year at SUNY Geneseo, led the Knights to the team title at the SUNYAC Outdoor Championships with 313 points. SUNY Geneseo, ranked No. 19 nationally and No. 1 regionally, have eight top-10 #EventSquad Rankings. The Knights have seven entries for the NCAA Championships, led by Ezra Ruggles as the No. 1 seed in the 1500.
NORTH REGION – Justin Kinseth – UW-Oshkosh
Kinseth, in his fifth year at UW-Oshkosh, led the Titans to their first team title since 1990 at the WIAC Outdoor Championships. UW-Oshkosh captured the conference crown by one point and broke a 30-year-old conference championship streak set by UW-La Crosse. The Titans have nine top-10 national rankings, lead the region in four different events and have eight top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, with the 100 and 200 both at No. 1.
SOUTH REGION – Jim Sprecher – Lynchburg
Sprecher, in his seventh year at Lynchburg, led the Hornets to the team title at the ODAC Outdoor Championships. The Hornets won six individual event titles and 17 were named All-Conference. Lynchburg, ranked No. 1 in the South Region, has three top-11 national rankings and leads the region in tree events, while owning three top-10 #EventSquad Rankings.
WEST REGION – Glenn Stewart – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Stewart, in his eighth year at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, led the Stags to the team title at the SCIAC Outdoor Championships by more than 100 points and scoring in 18 of 19 contested events. The SCIAC Coach of the Year had this team ranked No. 1 in the region all season. The Stags have five top-15 national marks and eight top-10 #EventSquad Rankings. CMS, ranked No. 23 nationally, qualified 12 athletes across 10 events for the NCAA Championships.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
EAST REGION – Stephen Fleagle – Tufts
Fleagle, in his first year as assistant coach at Tufts, coached the Jumbos’ jumpers to No. 1 #EventSquad Rankings in the East Region in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. His athletes won two NESCAC titles and collected a pair of top-5 East Region rankings in the decathlon as well.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Seth Ware – Trine
Ware, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Trine, coached the sprinters and hurdlers to combine for 89 of the Thunder’s 228 points in winning the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships. His top pupil, Jake Gladieux, swept the 110 and 400 hurdle titles and ranked No. 1 in the region in both events.
METRO REGION – Ryan Gebhardt – Rowan
Gebhardt, in his second year as assistant coach at Rowan, coached the Profs’ javelin throwers to a No. 1 showing in the national #EventSquad Rankings with four of the nation’s top-10 athletes. The group was led by national leader Greg Poloso, whose best effort of 70.39m (230-11) rates No. 7 in NCAA Division III history.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Tim Connelly – Carnegie Mellon
Connelly, in his eighth year as associate coach at Carnegie Mellon, coached the Tartans’ distance crew to No. 1 Mid-Atlantic Region rankings in four events with four different athletes. Three will compete in the nationals, including Michael Obroin, who rates No. 5 nationally in the 5000.
MIDEAST REGION – Dusty Lopez – Williams
Lopez, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Williams, coached the Ephs’ distance crew to NESCAC titles in four events, with Mideast Region-leading marks in three of those during the season. His top athlete, Aidan Ryan, rates No. 2 nationally in the 1500 and 5000.
MIDWEST REGION – Ryan Chapman – Wartburg
Chapman, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Wartburg, coached the Knights’ distance crew to tally 84 points at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships, including meet records in two events. Five of his athletes combined for six national entries.
NIAGARA REGION – Dan Moore – SUNY Geneseo
Moore, in his eighth year as assistant coach at SUNY Geneseo, coached the Knights’ distance crew to amass 123 points in winning five races at the SUNYAC Outdoor Championships. Three of his athletes lead the Niagara Region, with Ezra Ruggles also leading the nation in the 1500.
NORTH REGION – Kody Zahrte – UW-Stout
Zahrte, in his seventh year as assistant coach at UW-Stout, coached the Blue Devils’ throwers to combine for 41 of UW-Stout’s 109 points at the WIAC Outdoor Championships. His throwers rate top-6 nationally in all four throwing events in the #EventSquad Rankings, topped by being No. 2 in the shot put and discus.
SOUTH REGION – Jake Reed – Lynchburg
Reed, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Lynchburg, coached the Hornets’ distance crew to account for 95 of the team’s 202 points in winning the team title at the ODAC Outdoor Championships. Five of his athletes combined to win five events and set four meet records.
WEST REGION – Kyle Flores – Pomona-Pitzer
Flores, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Pomona-Pitzer, coached the Sagehens’ distance crew to 10 podium finishes at the SCIAC Outdoor Championships. His athletes dominate the West Region rankings in the 1500 (1-2) and steeplechase (1-2-3), with Colin Kirkpatrick leading the nation in the latter and posting a top-10 mark in NCAA DIII history.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
EAST REGION – Katy Nippert – WPI
Nippert, who hails from Salem, New Hampshire, is ranked among the top-11 seasonal performers in both the 200 meters (No. 9, 24.37) and 100 meters (No. 11, 11.94). She was named the NEWMAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year after winning the 200, anchoring the winning 4×100 relay and finishing runner-up in the 100.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Evie Miller – Trine
Miller, who hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana, is ranked among the top-5 seasonal performers in both the steeplechase (No. 1, 10:06.26) and 5000 meters (No. 5, 16:26.99). That mark in the steeplechase sits No. 2 in NCAA DIII history and was only Miller’s second foray in the event. Miller is undefeated against NCAA DIII competition in everything above 1500 meters and netted multiple titles at both the MIAA Field Day and the Indiana DIII Outdoor Championships.
METRO REGION – Laura Mathews – Stevens
Mathews, who hails from Denville, New Jersey, is ranked second nationally in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.82, a mark that put her No. 8 in NCAA DIII history. Her seasonal best in the 100H also sent her to a victory at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships and set a meet record.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Esther Seeland – Messiah
Seeland, who hails from State College, Pennsylvania, notched all-time top-10 marks in both the 800 meters (No. 10, 2:03.66) and 1500 meters (No. 8, 4:18.28) this season – and is ranked first nationally in both. She was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships Track MVP after scoring 33½ points thanks to a trio of individual victories (400, 800, 1500), as well as taking top-8 honors on both the 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams. Seeland also won the 800 at the Raleigh Relays (in a race that included NCAA DIII record-holder Emily Richards), finished first in her heat in the 1500 at the Penn Relays and took runner-up honors in the 800 at the Virginia Challenge, as the only non-NCAA DI competitor in most of those aforementioned fields.
MIDEAST REGION – Malissa Lindsey – Connecticut College
Lindsey, who hails from Chicago, Illinois, is ranked among the top-5 seasonal performers in both the 100 meters (No. 1, 11.76) and 200 meters (No. 5, 24.14). She swept both of those events at the NESCAC Outdoor Championships and was the New England DIII champion in the 100.
MIDWEST REGION – Kassie Parker – Loras
Parker, who hails from Guttenberg, Iowa, demolished the NCAA DIII record for the 10,000 meters when she ran 33:03.61 at the Stanford Invitational. That came just weeks before Parker clocked the fourth-fastest mark in NCAA DIII history in the 5000 meters of 16:09.66. Parker also swept the 5000-10,000 titles at the American Rivers Conference Championships.
NIAGARA REGION – Madison Mulder – SUNY Geneseo
Mulder, who hails from Smithtown, New York, is ranked first nationally in the 400 meters at 54.57, a mark that she used to win – and set a meet record – at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships. She also clocked a 53.81 split on the top-ranked 4×400 relay this season. Mulder was named the Most Outstanding Female Performer of the SUNYAC Outdoor Championships after winning both the 200 and 400.
NORTH REGION – Birgen Nelson – Gustavus Adolphus
Nelson, who hails from Edina, Minnesota, is ranked first nationally in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.71 and fourth nationally in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:00.64. She scored 25 points at the MIAC Outdoor Championships with a clean sweep of the hurdling events and anchoring both the winning 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Both of her seasonal bests came at the conference meet.
SOUTH REGION – Adalia Coleman – Bridgewater (Va.)
Coleman, who hails from Warrenton, Virginia, is ranked fifth nationally in the 100 meters at 11.90. She is ranked first regionally in both that event and the 200 meters (24.58). She was named the ODAC Female Track Athlete of the Meet after winning both the 100 and 200, and placing on top-4 relay teams at the ODAC Conference Championships.
WEST REGION – Margaret Trautner – Caltech
Trautner, who hails from Houston, Texas, is ranked among the top-6 seasonal performers in both the 800 meters (No. 4, 2:08.43) and 1500 meters (No. 6, 4:27.35). She won both the 800 and 1500 at the SCIAC Outdoor Championships and anchored the sixth-place 4×400 relay.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
EAST REGION – Jaidyn Appel – Tufts
Appel, who hails from Portland, Maine, is ranked first nationally in the high jump at 1.75m (5-8¾), a mark that she used to win – and set a meet record – at the NESCAC Outdoor Championships. She topped 1.70m (5-7) at every meet this postseason thus far.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Erin Pasch – DePauw
Pasch, who hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, is ranked first nationally in the heptathlon with 5041 points, a mark that she used to win – and set a meet record – at the NCAC Outdoor Championships. She was named the Most Outstanding Female Field Athlete of the Meet at the NCAC Outdoor Championships after completing the heptathlon-javelin sweep and taking runner-up honors in the long jump.
METRO REGION – Anna Cooney – Widener
Cooney, who hails from Nottingham, Pennsylvania, is ranked among the top-10 seasonal performers in both the shot put (No. 6, 14.37m/47-1¾) and hammer throw (No. 10, 53.76m/176-5). She won both events at the MAC Outdoor Championships and set both an outright conference record and championships record in the hammer.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Victoria Kadiri – Johns Hopkins
Kadiri, who hails from Lynn, Massachusetts, is ranked first nationally in the long jump at 6.06m (19-10¾) and second nationally in the triple jump at 12.42m (40-9). She completed a sweep of the horizontal jumps at the Centennial Conference Championships and broke conference and school records in both.
MIDEAST REGION – Kelsie Hao – Williams
Hao, who hails from McLean, Virginia, is ranked seventh nationally in the pole vault at 3.85m (12-7½). She placed top-3 in the pole vault at both the NESCAC Outdoor Championships as well as the All New England Outdoor Championships. During the NESCAC Outdoor Championships, Hao also competed in – and won – the long jump, while switching between her top events.
MIDWEST REGION – Kaitlyn Wilder – Dubuque
Wilder, who hails from Dunkerton, Iowa, is the only athlete in the country to be ranked among the top-5 seasonal performers in three different field events: hammer (No. 3, 58.22m/191-0), discus (No. 4, 47.22m/154-11) and shot put (No. 5, 14.59m/47-10½). She scored 26 points in field events at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships with a victory in the discus and runner-up finishes in both the hammer and shot put.
NIAGARA REGION – Logan Bruce – Ithaca
Bruce, who hails from Delhi, New York, is ranked third nationally in the heptathlon with 5006 points. She was named the Female Field Athlete of the Meet at the Liberty League Outdoor Championships after winning the long jump, finishing runner-up in the javelin and taking fourth place in the high jump.
NORTH REGION – Brianna Leahy – UW-Platteville
Leahy, who hails from Shullsburg, Wisconsin, is ranked first nationally in the shot put at 15.34m (50-4), which puts her among the top-10 performers in NCAA DIII history. She won the shot put and finished eighth in the discus at the WIAC Outdoor Championships for 11 points.
SOUTH REGION – Kammann Brown – Berry
Brown, who hails from Canton, Georgia, scored 26 points at the SAA Outdoor Championships with a victory in the triple jump and runner-up finishes in both the high jump and long jump. She is ranked first regionally in the high jump at 1.67m (5-5¾).
WEST REGION – Ava Nelson – Pacific Lutheran
Nelson, who hails from Mossyrock, Washington, is ranked first nationally in the javelin at 45.79m (150-3). She was named the Northwest Conference Female Field Athlete of the Year after posting that national-leading mark at the conference championships.
Women’s Coach of the Year
EAST REGION – Brian Chabot – WPI
Chabot, in his 14th year at WPI, led the Engineers to the team title at the NEWMAC Outdoor Championships and a second-place finish at the Division III New England Championship. The NEWMAC Coach of the Year currently has his team ranked No. 9 in the National TFRI. Chabot coached nine NEWMAC event champions, including the Track Athlete of the Year and Field Athlete of the Year. The Engineers set six school records this season.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Ray Appenheimer – Oberlin
Appenheimer, in his 18th year at Oberlin, led the Yeomen to the team title at the NCAC Outdoor Championships with 187 points. Oberlin won seven event titles and had 18 athletes earn all-conference honors. The Yeoman have six event groups ranked in the top-25 nationally. Appenheimer’s athletes broke two school records and set 163 personal bests this season.
METRO REGION – Justin Lindsey – TCNJ
Lindsey, in his 10th year at TCNJ, led the Lions to the team title at the NJAC Outdoor Championships. The NJAC Coach of the Year has TCNJ ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 27 in the National TFRI. The Lions top the regional chart in five events (400, 800, 4×100, 4×400, triple jump) and are ranked No. 4 in the #EventSquad rankings in both the 200 and 400. TCNJ has six entries for the NCAA Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Bobby Van Allen – Johns Hopkins
Van Allen, in his 23rd year at Johns Hopkins, led the Blue Jays to their 12-straight team title at the Centennial Conference Outdoor Championships with 253 points, the fourth-most in program history. Van Allen coached Lauren Phillips, Outstanding Track Performer and Outstanding Rookie of the Meet, and Victoria Kadiri to Outstanding Field Performer honors, with a total of 10 different athletes earning first-team All-Centennial honors. Johns Hopkins has 13 marks ranked among the top-15 nationally, including the top-ranked athletes in the 5000 and long jump. In the #EventSquad Rankings, the Blue Jays are ranked in the top-10 across six events with the 5000 ranked No. 1 and 1500 ranked No. 3. The Blue Jays are ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 1 regionally.
MIDEAST REGION – Martin Beatty – Middlebury
Beatty, in his 34th year at Middlebury, led the Panthers to their third team title at the NESCAC Outdoor Championships. Middlebury, ranked No. 3 in the region and No. 17 in the National TFRI, had six individuals and three relays earn All-Conference accolades. The Panthers are ranked in the top-15 nationally in six events and total five #EventSquad Rankings in the top-10, including the 800 at No. 1.
MIDWEST REGION – Jeff Stiles – Washington (Mo.)
Stiles, in his 21st year at Washington (Mo.), led the Bears to their fifth-straight team title at the UAA Outdoor Championships. The Bears, ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 1 regionally, scored in all 21 events contested and captured eight event crowns. Stiles coached Lauren Gay to Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Year honors and Emma Kelly to Sophomore Rookie of the Year honors. Washington (Mo.) has nine top-5 #EventSquad Rankings, including the top-ranked 100 and 10,000 squads. The Bears also have eight national top-10 rankings, led by the No. 1 4×100 relay and No. 3 4×400 relay.
NIAGARA REGION – Sam Albert – Rochester (N.Y.)
Albert, in his 13th year at Rochester (N.Y.), led the Yellowjackets to the team title at the Liberty League Outdoor Championships with 230 points. Albert coached six event champions and Susan Bansbach to Liberty League Women’s Track Performer of the Meet honors. The Yellowjackets set school records in the 400, 4×100 relay and 4×400 relay this season.
NORTH REGION – Nick Davis – UW-La Crosse
Davis, in his fifth year at UW-La Crosse, led the Eagles to the team title at the WIAC Outdoor Championships with 293.5 points, the most since 1996. The Eagles have eight events ranked in the top-3 of the #EventSquad Rankings.
SOUTH REGION – Robert Shankman – Rhodes
Shankman, in his 31st year at Rhodes, led the Lynx to their 14-straight team title at the SAA Championships with 265 points and six event champions. Rhodes, who finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in the region, had 13 athletes land on the All-Conference team.
WEST REGION – John Smith – George Fox
Smith, in his 19th year at George Fox, led the Bruins to the team title at the Northwest Conference Outdoor Championships. George Fox had 29 All-Conference honors and seven individual event titles under Smith’s leadership.The Bruins, ranked No. 1 in the West Region, have five qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
EAST REGION – Stephen Fleagle – Tufts
Fleagle, in his first year as assistant coach at Tufts, coached the Jumbos’ jumpers No. 3 national ratings in the #EventSquad Rankings in the long jump and triple jump. His top athlete is in the high jump, where Jaidyn Appel leads the nation.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Tyler Neff – Mount Union
Neff, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Mount Union, coached athletes to combine for 109 of the Purple Raiders’ 258 points in winning the team title at the OAC Outdoor Championships. His athletes won five events – 100, 200, 400, 4×100 and 4×400 – in collecting the season’s best marks in each of those events in the Great Lakes Region.
METRO REGION – John Kolibab – Stevens
Kolibab, in his third year as assistant coach at Stevens, coached athletes who accounted for 123.5 of the Ducks’ 129.5 points in finishing a program-best runner-up in the MAC Outdoor Championships. His athletes won five event titles in the MAC as well as two in the AARTF Outdoor Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Jose Rivera – Carnegie Mellon
Rivera, in his eighth year as assistant coach at Carnegie Mellon, coached the region’s top 100/200 runner in Samantha Giordani, who rates No. 5 and No. 3 in the nation, respectively. He has three more Tartans ranked in the top-10 in Mid-Atlantic Region in the sprints/hurdles.
MIDEAST REGION – Nicole Wilkerson – Middlebury
Wilkerson, in her 20th year as assistant coach at Middlebury, coached athletes who combined to score 51 of the Panthers’ 149 points in winning the team title at the NESCAC Outdoor Championships. Four of her athletes combine for six top-5 rankings in the Mideast Region’s mid-distance and distance events, with five of those spots ranking in the top-10 nationally.
MIDWEST REGION – Tommy Davis – Washington (Mo.)
Davis, in his third year as an assistant coach at Washington (Mo.), coached the Bears’ 4×100 team to a national-leading time while the 4×400 squad rated No. 3 nationally. In individual sprint events, five of his athletes rated among the top-10 in the Midwest Region. His athletes swept the top-3 spots of the podium in the 100 meters at the UAA Outdoor Championships, went 2-5 in the 200 meters, and finished first and second in the 400 meters.
NIAGARA REGION – Jay Petsch – Rochester (N.Y.)
Petsch, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Rochester (N.Y.), coached athletes to combine for 10 top-3 finishes at the Liberty League Outdoor Championships as the Yellowjackets won the team title. Two of his athletes, Madeline O’Connell and Eileen Bequette, rank among the top-6 nationally in the 400 meters and heptathlon, respectively.
NORTH REGION – Peter Delzer – Carroll (Wis.)
Delzer, in his sixth year as associate head coach at Carroll (Wis.), coached athletes who accounted for 59 of the Lady Pioneers’ 100 points in finishing third at the CCIW Outdoor Championships. Two of his athletes, Vanessa Uitenbroek and Emily Uitenbroek, rank among the top-5 nationally: Vanessa No. 2 in the discus; Emily No. 4 in the hammer.
SOUTH REGION – Jake Reed – Lynchburg
Reed, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Lynchburg, coached three athletes to win four individual titles at the ODAC Outdoor Championships, as the Hornets won the team title by more than 70 points. His stable of mid-distance and distance runners has four among the South Region’s top-5, with Jackie Wilson rating No. 1 in the 800.
WEST REGION – Gabe Haberly – George Fox
Haberly, in his ninth year as assistant coach at George Fox, coached Bruins to two top-5 ratings nationally in the #EventSquad Rankings. His javelin group finished No. 1, led by the nation’s second-ranked thrower in Chrissy Strickland, while his pole vault crew was No. 4. Haberly’s athletes scored 68.5 points at the Northwest Conference Outdoor Championships.