Award History
NJCAA ITF Awards Season2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Postseason Awards
NEW ORLEANS — Postseason awards for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which were held this past weekend at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility in Topeka, Kansas.
Scroll below to find information about our National Athletes & Coaches of the Year, Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year as well as those athletes who earned All-America honors. Remember: National Athletes & Coaches of the Year are voted on by member coaches after the championship meet, while Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year are voted on prior to the championship meet.
USTFCCCA National Award Winners
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Tapiwanashe Makarawu was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Makarawu, who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe, was a double winner at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas. He won the 60 meters in a seasonal-best 6.63 and the 200 in 20.51, then split 45.45 – fastest of the meet – on the second leg of the T-Birds’ 4×400 relay, which finished second in 3:07.26 in becoming the No. 2 program all-time. His 200 time of 20.51 was the No. 3 performance in NJCAA history, just behind his seasonal best of 20.47 that rates him No. 2 all-time.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Privilege Chikara was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Chikara, who hails from Zimbabwe, won the 800 and mile at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Championships in Topeka, Kansas. She clocked NJCAA-leading times in both events – 2:12.73 in the 800 and 5:00.11 in the mile. Entering the NJCAA Indoor Championships, Chikara ranked No. 4 in both events at 2:16.10 and 5:09.15, respectively.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Kudakwashe Chadenga was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Chadenga, who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe, equaled the NJCAA indoor record in the high jump with a 2.26m (7-5) clearance at the Corky Classic in January. He culminated his campaign with a national title at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas, at 2.23m (7-3¾) – just one of his five clearances at at that height or higher this winter as no other NJCAA athlete has ever had more than one in a single season.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Miracle Ailes was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Ailes, who hails from Keokuk, Iowa, swept the high jump and long jump titles at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas. She broke the NJCAA indoor record in the high jump at the Northwest Missouri Open in January at 1.87m (6-1½) and climbed to No. 2 on the all-time NJCAA list with her long jump victory of 6.42m (21-0¾) at the NJCAA Indoor Championships.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Keith Blackwill was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Blackwill, in his 17th year as head coach of the T-Birds, led his team to an inspiring co-championship at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas, with two-time defending champion South Plains (Texas). The T-Birds scored 107 points – winning six events and scoring in 13 of the 20 events – in earning its first indoor title since 1980.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Keith Blackwill was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Blackwill, in his 17th year as head coach of the T-Birds, led his team to its first team crown since 2020 (and fifth overall) at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas. NMJC scored 116 points in winning four event titles and scoring in 14 of the 20 events.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Wes Miller was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Miller, in his fourth year coaching the Texans’ sprints, hurdles, relays and middle distances, mentored his athletes to six wins at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas. The Texans swept all three relays, including an NJCAA record in the 4×800 (7:28.38) and No. 2 all-time clocking in the distance medley (9:47.28). During the season, his middle distance crew twice broke the NJCAA record in the 800 (combining for Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7 all-time) and added three top-10 all-time marks in the 600 and 1000.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Arman Hall was named the National Assistant Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season. Hall, in his first year coaching the T-Birds’ sprinters and hurdlers, guided athletes to win three events at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Topeka, Kansas. Even with team victory clinched, his 4×400 team ran 3:40.56 to become the No. 4 program in NJCAA history.
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